20/02/2007
Safer bonfire night
- Environmental Health LCC
- Trading Standards inspectors
- Marketing Services LCC
- Firework sellers/retail outlets
- Liverpool Echo Newspaper
- Merseyside Police
- Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
- Enterprise Liverpool
Background:
The need for a Council crack down on illegal sale of fireworks. This was done by a variety of methods including unannounced inspections taking place across Liverpool. Scrutinising underage purchases and prohibited sales.
Project Details:
Liverpool's trading standards team visited retailers across the city to make sure they are not breaking the law by selling fireworks too early, selling them to minors or selling illegal fireworks, including Bangers.
Licensed businesses can only sell fireworks from 15 October until 10 November can only be sold to people over the age of 18.
Liverpool City Council's executive member for the environment Councillor Berni Turner, said: "Spot-checks like this are essential to make sure fireworks, which can be dangerous in the wrong hands, are being sold safely and responsibly.
"In the past, people's lives have been ruined by fireworks being set off long before and after bonfire night. These measures will make sure fireworks are sold as close to the event as possible and can only be bought by the over 18s.
Liverpool has been carrying out checks on the sale of fireworks for 20 years and businesses are aware that trading standards will prosecute anyone working outside of the law. The city has a great record on this and last year only one shop was found to be acting illegally and fined."
The inspections are part of Merseyside's 'Good Guy' campaign which is a joint initiative between the city council, Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Liverpool's Trading Standards co-ordinator, Stephanie Hudson, said:
"Liverpool businesses have a good track record when it comes to selling fireworks legally and safely. But these checks are essential so we can make sure people are acting responsibly - whether they're buying or selling fireworks - and to make sure the 5th goes with the right, safe kind of bang."
Prohibited fireworks include all bangers such as Chinese crackers, aerial shells, those which fly erratically (squibs, jumping jacks, helicopters etc), mini-rockets, air bombs and excessively loud fireworks where the noise level exceeds 120 decibels.
A four page Echo supplement ensured people had access to information re - licensed sellers, how to report an incident, safe handling advise, details of all approved public firework displays.
Outcomes:
Undercover spot-checks are preventing shops from selling fireworks illegally.
Published results after bonfire night showed police-callouts concerning fireworks and mischief night were down on last year.
A competition in the Echo supplement attracted hundreds of entries and reinforced the legal dates when fireworks can be bought
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