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Halloween & Firework Safety

Be Safe this Halloween and Bonfire Night

FIREWORKS!

Did you know?

The use of fireworks to harass, intimidate or cause damage is a criminal offence and can be punished by an £80 fixed penalty notice or a £5,000 fine. Make sure you are using and enjoying Fireworks safely and responsibly.

Thurrock Council, and its Partners, are again putting in place, for 2009, their Fireworks Campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the penalties for anti-social behaviour relating to fireworks.

Halloween and Fireworks Night are events that everyone loves to enjoy, and Thurrock Council wants to ensure that the enjoyment is not spoilt by the misuse/abuse of Fireworks. Last year, Firework related incidents of anti-social behaviour reduced by over 20% from the previous year. Fire Service data on the numbers of small fires for the Halloween/Fireworks period was equally pleasing with a big fall in incidents (including bin fires): 2007 - 69 incidents (16 bin fires), 2008 - 30 incidents (12 bin fires).

The campaign aims to further reduce the number of incidents for 2009/2010 to ensure that all Thurrock residents enjoy a safe Halloween, Diwali and Fireworks night.

The Council and its partners within the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership are working together to ensure that the messages of penalties for the misuse/abuse of fireworks get to the residents of Thurrock. Community Protection Officers and Police will be undertaking a number of patrols before, and on Firework night, and Council Officers will be working to ensure that bonfires, or accumulations of rubbish, are not built-up where they are not permitted, and ensuring that once identified, they are cleared up.

Part of the campaign includes visits to some local secondary schools by the Fire Service and Essex Police to talk to young people, about firework safety and also the penalties involved for the misuse. Trading Standards and the Fire Service are also undertaking a series of visits to retailers to ensure that all fireworks are stored safely.

Posters will be displayed around the borough at Council, and Partner premises, as well as within local businesses and within Forums and Community Groups.

Residents who may wish to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour relating to fireworks should contact Thurrock Council on 01375 652578 or 652417 for noise nuisance relating to fireworks being let off outside of the permitted hours.

Please follow the guidance given on these websites to ensure a happy & safe Halloween & Bonfire night:

Halloween

• Essex Police - Are You a 2smart Trick or Treater?
• Essex Police - Halloween Advice
• NHS Direct - How can I keep my child safe during Halloween?

Bonfire Night

• Fire Service - Firework Safety
• Essex Police - Fireworks Safety
• Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform - Firework Safety

Using Fireworks

Anyone using fireworks to harass, intimidate or cause damage is committing A CRIMINAL OFFENCE which can be punished by a £80 fixed penalty notice or a £5,000 fine.

• It is an offence to throw or set off fireworks in a public place
• It is an offence for anyone under 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.
• It is a offence for any person to use adult fireworks between the hours of 11pm and 7am except for 'permitted' fireworks nights with the following exceptions.
  • 5 November: 12 midnight
  • Diwali: 1am
  • New Year's Eve: 1am
  • Chinese New Year: 1am

For further information please contact Thurrock Council's Public Protection Team on 01375 652652.

Trading Standards

All traders selling fireworks must register with Trading Standards who carry out inspections to ensure safe storage and that only approved fireworks are supplied to the general public, SO PLEASE REMEMBER:

• Don't buy fireworks from markets, boot fairs or from street traders.
• Don't be tempted to purchase fireworks to soon as you have a responsibility to store them safely.
• If you are offered cheap fireworks or have any concerns regarding traders, types of fireworks and private storage please contact trading standards.
• It is an offence for traders to supply fireworks to persons under the age of 18 and for persons under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.
• Traders are now restricted to the times of year that the can sell fireworks unless they hold a special licence:
  • On the first day of the Chinese New Year and the three days preceding.
  • On the day of Diwali and three days preceding
  • During the period of 15th October to 10th November
  • During the period of 26th November to 31st December
• Legislation now prohibits the use of fireworks between the hours of 11pm and 7am except on the following dates:
  • Beginning at 11pm on the first day of Chinese New Year and ending at 1am the following day.
  • Beginning at 11pm on the 5th November and ending at 12am on the following day.
  • Beginning at 11pm on the day of Diwali and ending at 1am the following day.
  • Beginning at 11pm on 31st December and ending at 1am the following day.

For any queries regarding licences, storage and types of fireworks please contact Thurrock Council Trading Standards on 01375 652329 / 652477. For any queries relating to firework use and curfew periods please contact your local Police Station.