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Voluntary
ban on firework sales
AS
BONFIRE night looms, pet owners once again face the prospect
of their dogs, cats and other pets being terrified of the loud
bangs and flashes of fireworks over several nights, particularly
as November 5 falls on a Tuesday this year, thus seeing many
private and public firework displays taking place over the weekend
as well as on the day itself. Indeed, as in previous years,
the weeks running up to this can cause equal stress to pets
as mindless yobs delight in letting off fireworks at all times
of day and night, as well as throwing fireworks in the street.
For many years there have been successive attempts to ban the
private sale of fireworks, but all such moves to do so –
largely by Private Members’ Bills in parliament have been
blocked.
However, there is a small crumb of comfort for pet owners on
the horizon. From January 2003, the fireworks industry is placing
a private ban on the sale of air bombs – which are responsible
for nearly half of all firework injuries in the street –
and on small whistle/bang rockets.
They are also piloting a scheme whereby anyone under the age
of 18 caught throwing fireworks in the street faces a £40
on the spot fine.
David Crausby, Labour MP for Bolton North West has been campaigning
for many years to have the private sale of fireworks banned.
Earlier this year, OUR DOGS reported how Mr Crausby’s Private
Member’s Bill to instigate such a ban was being considered
by Parliament.
Sadly, Mr Crausby’s Bill was lost, but he welcomed the
Fireworks Industry’s voluntary action as a “step in
the right direction.
“I think this is the ideal opportunity to restart the campaign
to ban the private sale of fireworks,” said Mr Crausby.
“I have long been concerned about the misuse of fireworks
in the run up to and the period after 5th November. A number
of people have spoken or contacted me regarding the banning
of fireworks. One reason for this is because I am one of the
few Members of Parliament that have been keen to back a ban.
“Fireworks continue to be a problem for many, particularly
with domestic pets and wildlife. I have been very vocal, not
only in my own constituency of Bolton North West, but also on
the Westminster stage, in calling for well publicised, organised
displays only. I believe that this will create a safe environment
for all to enjoy this event.
“I am not a killjoy but I am very concerned every year
at the number of firework injuries and the public nuisance that
the illegal use of fireworks can cause. I believe that the only
way to deal with the nuisance of fireworks is to limit them
to organised displays.”
Mr Crausby’s views are echoed by one of his constituents,
Melanie Willcock who runs the Firesides Bull Breeds Advisory
Service in Bolton, which deals with rescue and rehoming of Bull
breeds. “In the past few years, it’s just become absolute
madness with fireworks,” said Melanie. “And so many
of them are these loud air mortars which seem just designed
to make as loud a noise as possible. Animals – especially
dogs – get freaked out by them.”
Melanie also has strong words about the ban on private firework
sales in Northern Ireland and how easy it is for such a ban
to be circumvented. “A lady in Northern Ireland has made
a strongly worded complaint to a big name firework company.
One of their brand of fireworks was hurled into her garden and
almost grabbed by her retriever," says Melanie. "She
says this company’s fireworks are still sent to Ireland
by mail order from the UK mainland, despite a public ban on
firework sales being in force in the Province."
Melanie continues: "As for my own dog Plug who suffered
a heart attack and stroke on the bonfire weekend last year,
he was ironically rendered deaf after the stroke though he can
hear certain pitches. I have everything crossed that this year
he won’t be so stressed. I never want to have to have to
watch any dog go through what Plug did last year or for any
owner to feel as helpless as I did.
"This why, although I welcome the new firework agreement,
I still feel it is not enough. The first tragedy this year has
already occurred with an English Bull Terrier cross in Middleton,
Manchester picking up a lit firework thrown at it with fatal
consequences.
"A voluntary ban from within the Firework Industry is never
going to be enough. A total ban on the private sale of fireworks
is the only way that any measure of calm can be restored."
Melanie Willcock may be contacted on: 01204 705951 or by e-mail:
Mel0@pgen.net
The last attempt to impose restrictions on firework sales and
to bolster up the law on their misuse came four years ago when
Labour MP Linda Gilroy (Plymouth Sutton) brought forward a Private
Member’s Bill to give the Secretary of State powers to
make regulations, which would ensure:
l High safety standards for those who put on displays; a national
licensing and training scheme for those who handle larger and
more dangerous fireworks;
l The causing of distress, injury or death to animals and vulnerable
people becomes a criminal offence;
The Bill's intention was to make sure that people could enjoy
fireworks, but enjoy them safely.
The Bill had Government backing and was refined in consultation
with people from the industry, the RSPCA, Age Concern, The National
Campaign for Firework Safety, RoSPA and other consumer safety
groups.
The Bill passed through all its stages in the Commons and the
Lords (including a session before the Lord's Delegated Powers
and Deregulation Committee) but was talked out at the very final
consideration of Lord's amendments on 3rd July 1998. Attempts,
during the summer recess of 1998, to persuade the maverick Tory
MPs who wrecked the Bill to back a formal chance to pass the
Bill, met with continuing intransigence on their part.
The Bill therefore fell with the session in November 1998.
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