Remember, Remember: Fireworks and the Law

With the fireworks season starting, the sale of fireworks legally began on Wednesday 15th October at registered or licensed retail premises. Sales may legally continue until Monday 10th November, except for a very few premises who are licensed to sell all year round.

Kent Trading Standards issues registrations and licences to these premises on an annual basis, and enforces the safe storage of fireworks.If you become aware of anyone selling fireworks from premises other than a retail shop, especially from a van or in the local pub or club, please notify Kent Police or Trading Standards. They may be committing an offence by selling in this manner, and could be handling stolen goods. They may also be putting themselves and others at risk if they do not handle and store the fireworks safely and legally.

It is also an offence for anyone to set off a firework in a public place; and it is an offence for anyone under 18 years old to purchase fireworks, or to possess fireworks in a public place. If this is taking place in your area, please immediately notify Kent Police.

Fireworks should only be set off up to 11pm or after 7am, except for 5th November (up to midnight) and for Diwali on Tuesday 28th October (up to 1am the next day).

To report illegal sales of fireworks in progress, use or underage possession in public places, or use outside permitted hours, contact your local Police Station via the Kent Police switchboard on 01622 690690.

If you have concern that someone has or is selling Category 4 professional fireworks, which generally have a plain brown covering and simple white labels, please contact Kent Police using the "999" emergency number. These types can be extremely dangerous in untrained hands. They should be marked "for professional use only".

To report underage sales or unsafe storage information, please contact Kent Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

For further information on the storage and sale of fireworks, see the Better Enforcement and Regulatory Reform website at www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks