Written evidence submitted by Andy Hubble (FWS0289)

Petitions Committee Fireworks Inquiry Response

As a fireworks display business owner, and a former firework safety adviser to the Department of Trade and Industry, I can say with absolute certainty that fireworks today are so much quieter than they used to be. I can very clearly remember the days in the late 80’s and early 90’s when fireworks had a far greater impact on society than they do today. Back then, fireworks that made a lot of noise were on sale, fireworks such as air bombs, bangers, whistling mini-rockets and noise batteries. Pack quantities then were perfect for youngsters because they could buy 10 bangers for a pound, and they would go about the streets of every town, city and village for weeks on end blighting communities with bangs, screechers and the like being fired non-stop. Government publicity campaigns back then focused on the hooligan and were aimed at reducing the anti-social use of fireworks which were at an all time high.

Today though the situation is very different. You cannot buy bangers or mini-rockets, you cannot buy fireworks the sole purpose of which is to make bangs, and pack quantities have changed so fireworks that were once the tools of the hooligan are no longer available. There are decibel limits and tighter transport regulations mean that the more powerful fireworks that we once used to see are no longer sold.

I genuinely find it very difficult to believe the arguments of firework campaigners that fireworks have never been louder and have never gone on for such a long time as they do today. This argument goes completely against the facts.

SUMMARY OF THE FACTS TODAY

-              Bangers, air bombs, mini-rockets have all been banned

-              Most rockets are limited to just 20g of powder (previously they frequently could have                                           contained up to ten times this mass)

-              Most firework burst compositions are limited to just 5% flash powder (flash powder bursts                             the shot once it gets into the air, but in large quantities can produce a bang as a side-                                          effect - previously many burst compositions had up to 25% or more flash powder)

-              It’s not possible to buy retail fireworks that only go bang - consequently most fireworks on                             sale are colourful ones rather than specific noise-makers

-              The government anti-hooligan campaigns stopped running in the 90s because the new                                           regulations had such a positive effect

I have see the statistics being gathered by some firework organisations which show a huge lack of evidence in terms of complaints to local authority enforcers or the Police around the country, completely contradicting the picture painted by campaigners. These figures really mirror the situation I describe above - it is much quieter and complaints are almost non-existent.

Explosive Strength

The current limits on explosive strength are based on stringent UN criteria that apply across the world. The majority of fireworks sold to members of the public are hazard type 4 (the lowest strength). Professional fireworks are typically hazard type 4 or 3 (3 is more powerful than 4). The levels are accepted across Europe and I don’t believe there is any argument to change them.

Noise Level Restrictions

The current restrictions on noise level are significantly lower than they used to be in the 90s, and are the same level found across Europe. In the 90s there were no levels and so a bang going off might be heard right across a town. Today, the limit is 120 decibels, but just because the limit is 120 decibels doesn’t mean that every firework reaches this level. Most are considerably lower level.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions used to be 16 years old and are now 18 years. I believe combined with the lower availability of hooligan style fireworks and the increased age, the status quo is now acceptable and proof can be seen in the low numbers of complaints recorded by local authorities and the Police.

Safety Standards

I do have a concern that whilst the current European Standard is good, it is not as stringent as the old British Standard used to be. I would like the UK to revert to the British Standard (BS) or an equivalent that can operated in a similar way to the old BS. Now, too much focus or reliance is placed upon test houses in China, whereas before importers had to do more to ensure compliance and more testing was done in the UK.

Enforcement

Enforcement is my biggest concern with fireworks. The legislation is there to enable enforcers to take positive action, but the reality is that fireworks are not a priority and very little ever happens. The Police were provided with the facility to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for fireworks in public places, but in fact very few have been issued. Where Police do target fireworks (for example a 2018 operation in Edinburgh), they are effective and are able to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Public and Private Displays

Over 10 million people enjoyed fireworks in the UK in 2018, with huge numbers choosing to let off the fireworks at home. There is something special about having a home fireworks display with a barbecue and friends, something that professional shows cannot give. Children love the excitement of having fireworks at home, and in fact home is often now one of the few places that sparklers can be enjoyed because they are banned at most professional displays. That said, the professional show is very popular too and in the UK most of the larger, professional companies are members of the British Pyrotechnists Association which has a code of conduct that members have to agree too. Most shows happen around Guy Fawkes, but fireworks are also popular at weddings, New Years Eve, Diwali, concerts and graduations. Discussions have taken place in the past about licensing display companies or venues, but examples in other countries have shown this is an overly burdensome requirement and can lead to incredibly restrictive rules being introduced by some local authorities. This risks taking the fireworks market ‘underground’ as it is in Ireland and some other European countries, where actually the imposition of tough restrictions has had the reverse effect to what is desired, creating an unregulated underground market where sub-standard products sometimes with instructions that are not in the native language are found.

In terms of safety evidence, accidents occur at both types of display, public and private, although private displays over the years have seen a higher proportion. However, back in the 90s accident levels were particularly high, so much so that the government took action to promote firework safety through advertising campaigns and working with the industry. Gradually, as new regulations came into force and advertising campaigns took effect, accident numbers came down, until they became so low that further measures and accident reporting was not deemed necessary.

Importantly, the elements that led to high numbers of accidents, in particular injuries caused through hooliganism, are largely no longer present. We don’t have the same mini-rockets on sale which some youngsters used to fire down the street and you cannot buy air bombs or bangers that were so often thrown in the streets or at/into houses. I accept that there are still issues, but these issues are nowhere near as prevalent as they were back in the 90s, because those tools of the hooligans are no longer in circulation and critically have not been replaced with an alternative.

Education

In addition to better use of enforcement powers, I would like to see more awareness made of firework safety in schools. Better education about the dangers of fireworks and the impact of antisocial behaviour would be very welcome together with more targeted use of powers.

Summary

In summary, I don’t believe the situation is especially bad today and I don’t believe that people or animals are suffering more than the huge amount they did in the 90s. Government legislation is robust and covers everything it needs to. If there is any belief that the situation is as bad as some make out, then I would encourage enforcement powers to be better used.

The UK fireworks industry is a responsible one and has taken many steps in the past to tackle the hooligan element (through working with government, arranging its own education materials and through trade associations that work closely with enforcers). The industry has also taken measures to work with animal charities to provide guidance for people with pets at home. The professional display industry has introduced accredited training courses for firework displays that are the envy of other countries and other disciplines within the UK explosives sector.

If anything needs doing it is better enforcement, and if there is one thing I definitely would not do and that is over-legislate against fireworks which could have the terrible outcomes seen in other European countries where fireworks are banned but where a thriving and dangerous black market exists.

Andy Hubble MIExpE

April 2019