Government to review ban on loudest fireworks after Luton MP’s campaign
The government has revealed it will look into limiting the sale of the loudest fireworks to public displays only, after years of campaigning by the MP for Luton North.
Sarah Owen MP has been calling for updates in the law citing the issues antisocial fireworks cause for people across the country.
The current laws allows for fireworks up to F3 rockets to be sold from licensed shops. These powerful fireworks create 120db of noise – the equivalent to being next to a blaring police siren, or directly in front of the speakers at a live rock concert.
Ms Owen has claimed there is a “licensing loophole” with unlicensed sellers also allowed to sell fireworks during the festive period of Bonfire Night, New Year’s and Diwali.
The Luton North MP has tried twice to introduce laws to tackle the misuse of fireworks, after hearing from her constituents about their plight.
She developed the ‘Fireworks Bill’ after working with animal welfare and veterans charities. It proposed a reduction in noise limit to 90db, a ban on the most potent fireworks from sale, closing the licensing loophole, and reviewing online and social media sales.
While the bill did not go through, Glasgow West MP Patricia Ferguson is bringing a revised version to parliament.
The government’s review will look at banning the loudest fireworks from sale to the general public, and banning more products due to their risk of use in antisocial behaviour,.
Sarah Owen MP said: “It has been over 20 years since our fireworks laws have been looked into – so this review is a major win for the campaign to finally deal with the problem of antisocial fireworks that affects so many across the country. Ever since I became an MP in 2019, I have been saying our out-of-date fireworks laws needed to change – it’s so good to see this become reality.
“Between the licensing loophole, high noise limits, and lack of proper enforcement, our current laws mean misery for residents, often for months on end. It undermines trust that the council and police can act on things that make life worse for people and turns neighbour against neighbour.
“I look forward to engaging with the government in its review and continuing to make the argument for change.”