Fireworks

[Sue]

 

Just received this email:

You’re receiving this email because you signed the petition: “Limit the sale of fireworks to those running local council approved events only”.

The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Limit the sale of fireworks to those running local council approved events only”.

Government responded:

The Government recognises the negative impact fireworks can have on some people and animals. However, when used responsibly they are a source of enjoyment for many people.

The Government’s intention is to minimise the negative impact of fireworks and to support their considerate use, while reducing the risks and disturbances to individuals, animals, and property. The majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner and there are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are misused.

At this point in time the Government does not have any plans to ban the sale of fireworks to consumers. We have launched a fireworks campaign for this fireworks season to provide guidance on minimising the impacts of fireworks on animal welfare and encouraging responsible use. Lower noise fireworks are promoted in the campaign alongside encouraging people to consider going to a public display. Public displays are more likely to be well-publicised, providing people with an opportunity to prepare ahead of the display taking place. The campaign also includes new guidance for those running community fireworks events, and social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks. This supplements existing guidance from Government and other organisations that is available to help people to use fireworks safely and appropriately. My safety: fireworks - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/my-safety-fireworks)

Organising non-professional fireworks displays - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/organising-non-professional-fireworks-displays)

A regulatory framework currently controls the sale, availability, and use of fireworks to consumers. For example, there is an 11pm curfew in place for the use of fireworks, with later exceptions only for the traditional firework periods of November 5th, Diwali, New Year’s Eve and the Chinese New Year. Using fireworks outside the curfew hours is a criminal offence enforced by the police and can lead to imprisonment and a substantial fine. There is also a maximum noise level of 120 decibels with many retailers also offering ‘lower noise’ and ‘no bang’ fireworks.

A number of animal welfare organisations, along with industry and local authorities, provide advice and guidance to enable people to minimise the negative impacts of fireworks on people, animals and our communities. We work closely with these organisations to amplify this messaging in the run up to, and during, key dates when fireworks are commonly used. 

To inform any future action the Government will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks.

Department for Business and Trade

Click this link to view the response online:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/732559?reveal_response=yes

This petition has over 100,000 signatures. The Petitions Committee will consider it for a debate. They can also gather further evidence and press the government for action.

The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government and in opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government. Find out more about the Committee: https://petition.parliament.uk/help#petitions-committee

Thanks,

The Petitions Team

House of Commons

[first mate]

Thanks for posting. Sounds like little will change then. I am not clear from the response if this will still go to debate or not. I hope it does. 

[first mate]

More fireworks tonight.

Seriously, there are going to be large numbers of domestic pets that will require medication for half the year at this rate. Heaven knows what it is doing to wildlife.

 

[SophieA]

On 20/11/2025 at 21:48, first mate said:

More fireworks tonight.

Seriously, there are going to be large numbers of domestic pets that will require medication for half the year at this rate. Heaven knows what it is doing to wildlife.

 

Some terrible ones up near the ED estate this evening. I had reported two lots of misuse to the council but was told last week “it’s not for them to deal with” it’s only for the police. I asked them why they had a fireworks misuse button on their website if it’s nothing to do with them - he couldn’t give me an answer. The Met aren’t gonna give two figs about local issues like this but I will try and go through the SN team. 

[first mate]

And here we go again. A nice booming bomb drop sounding explosion to kick things off.

Can anyone really remember a time when we had fireworks every week from September on? 

[NewWave]

Fireworks yesterday evening that scared our elderly cat and sent him hiding under our bed (his safe place). about 10 miniutes ago they started again.. another night of the cat lying terrifed under the bed.

Its so selfish and unfair!

[Sue]

 

27 minutes ago, SophieA said:

Some terrible ones up near the ED estate this evening. I had reported two lots of misuse to the council but was told last week “it’s not for them to deal with” it’s only for the police. I asked them why they had a fireworks misuse button on their website if it’s nothing to do with them - he couldn’t give me an answer. The Met aren’t gonna give two figs about local issues like this but I will try and go through the SN team. 

Does the Southwark noise team not still exist?

If it does, surely it must cover noise from fireworks?

Edited November 22 by Sue

[first mate]

Tuesday night, more fireworks and it is 11.33 pm, so an illegal display. 

[lindylou]

I'm sorry, but I have enough now. Just at the minute loud fireworks are going off . Why? It would appear that folks have money to burn. It's difficult to know the exact location, but this needs stopping now 

[Howie]

2 hours ago, lindylou said:

I'm sorry, but I have enough now. Just at the minute loud fireworks are going off . Why? It would appear that folks have money to burn. It's difficult to know the exact location, but this needs stopping now 

Where are they coming from? I’m getting sick to the back teeth of having to calm my pup, and subsequently calm my wee one when they get woken up.

[SophieA]

2 hours ago, lindylou said:

I'm sorry, but I have enough now. Just at the minute loud fireworks are going off . Why? It would appear that folks have money to burn. It's difficult to know the exact location, but this needs stopping now 

It’s terrible isn’t it. But it’s so hard to know what to do! I have signed petitions, written to our MP, and complained to Southwark - it doesn’t seem to do anything. My cat is hating it and I am so worried for all our local wildlife. Maybe there’s more that can be done if the community joins together on the issue?  

On 22/11/2025 at 19:47, Sue said:

 

Does the Southwark noise team not still exist?

If it does, surely it must cover noise from fireworks?

Maybe so - but they didn’t even want to talk to me about it. Said it was only for the police and hung up. Really shocking and very frustrating considering how much I hand them in service charges and council tax each month!

Edited Saturday at 21:54 by SophieA

[first mate]

If I was hearing the same thing it sounded more like a 62 gun salute. A monotonous but extremely loud bang, bang, bang. Whatever type of firework was used it seems to have been chosen for maximum noise. Intrusive and anti social.

9 minutes ago, SophieA said:

Maybe so - but they didn’t even want to talk to me about it. Said it was only for the police and hung up. Really shocking and very frustrating considering how much I hand them in service charges and council tax each month!

Maybe take it to your local councillor. We are now at a stage that fireworks have been let off multiple times a week since September, sometimes well after 11pm. It is out of control.

Edited Saturday at 22:01 by first mate

[Sue]

1 hour ago, SophieA said:

 

Maybe so - but they didn’t even want to talk to me about it. Said it was only for the police and hung up. Really shocking and very frustrating considering how much I hand them in service charges and council tax each month!

Did you phone the actual noise control number? I posted a screenshot of it above on the thread somewhere.

If so, they have given you totally wrong information, unless they have recently changed their policy on firework noise.

You could complain to the council directly and/or ask your councillor to take it up with them?

I was also disturbed by very loud firework noise earlier tonight, and it's over three weeks since 5 November. 

It is really not acceptable. It was still loud through triple glazing in my bedroom.

Poor animals.

[IlonaM]

Just had another look at the council website on fireworks and asb. Looks like they have now handed misuse of fireworks to police, at least those in public spaces (page last updated 25th November 2025):

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/public-health-and-safety/community-safety/antisocial-and-threatening-behaviour/misuse-fireworks

I'm sure it used to be under the council antisocial behaviour team. There is still a link to the antisocial behaviour reporting form though.

Southwark's noise nuisance page still mentions fireworks at night between 11pm and 7am with exceptions for certain events, so clearly some confusing and inconsistent advice going on:

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/public-health-and-safety/community-safety/noise-and-nuisance

Edited Sunday at 09:27 by IlonaM

[Sue]

2 hours ago, IlonaM said:

Just had another look at the council website on fireworks and asb. Looks like they have now handed misuse of fireworks to police, at least those in public spaces (page last updated 25th November 2025):

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/public-health-and-safety/community-safety/antisocial-and-threatening-behaviour/misuse-fireworks

I'm sure it used to be under the council antisocial behaviour team. There is still a link to the antisocial behaviour reporting form though.

Southwark's noise nuisance page still mentions fireworks at night between 11pm and 7am with exceptions for certain events, so clearly some confusing and inconsistent advice going on:

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/public-health-and-safety/community-safety/noise-and-nuisance

Surely then antisocial firework noise from someone's garden would be reported to the council, and similar noise from a public space to the police, which would make sense?

The council really needs to get its act together if it's giving out inconsistent information.

[Penguin68]

I think misue of fireworks would involve throwing them, setting them off in public spaces etc. Which would be a police matter. Having a firework party at home in private property at an unsocial time would I think be a council noise issue as this isn't 'misuse' of fireworks as such but anti social behaviour regarding noise. Unfortunately most fireworks parties aren't that long in duration, so by the time a council noise team attended the nuisance would probably be over. It's not like a noisy party with continuing loud music. 

[Insuflo]

The amount of fireworks noise over a wide area last night couldn’t have just been teenagers messing around. I’m presuming that St. Andrew’s Day (or the eve of) has now been added the ever lengthening list of dates that some people feel need to be marked with ordnance.

It doesn’t really matter whether the police or council is responsible for enforcement; if the launch site or the person lighting the touch-paper can’t be identified, how are they supposed to do anything?

The only solution is to end the sale of fireworks to the public, which the Fire Brigades Union has lobbied for for decades. All governments since the ‘70s have resisted this. Otherwise, pressure local councils to withhold licenses to retailers. More regulation not less, which goes against the mantra of both Labour and Tories.

I personally don’t give business to some local newsagents, who now spend a quarter of the year promoting the sale of fireworks.

[first mate]

2 hours ago, Penguin68 said:

Unfortunately most fireworks parties aren't that long in duration, so by the time a council noise team attended the nuisance would probably be over. It's not like a noisy party with continuing loud music. 

That is true, but that short burst of intense noise can cause life-changing, long-term damage and consequences for pets and their owners. A quick internet search shows there is a developing craze for as-loud-as-possible fireworks- the emphasis is on how much of a bang they make, not on the visual aspect. What is it that people love so much about this and why do they think it is okay to impose it on everyone else? I am appalled that the government clearly have no intention of doing a thing about it.

Our allegedly 'green' council should probably take a closer look. If we start having fireworks going off every night for 6 months of the year, that is going to have a variety of environmental impacts.

 

Edited Sunday at 14:45 by first mate

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Some of these things are going on for quite a while, and consistently. I'm just guessing but it seems better organised/choreographed than just a back garden shindig or kids chucking them around. Surely it's got to be wedding venues etc that are putting them on or maybe just allowing them...?

[Howie]

Another little outburst of colourful ordinance at 2:20am this morning. 

[first mate]

Yes, woken up by that one; presumably not a wedding!