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| Underground firework trade fears | Underground firework trade fears |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Laws regulating the sale of fireworks must be tightened, fire chiefs have said, citing fears that they are still falling into the hands of youngsters. | Laws regulating the sale of fireworks must be tightened, fire chiefs have said, citing fears that they are still falling into the hands of youngsters. |
| The Chief Fire Officers' Association says more needs to be done to tackle a thriving underground trade ahead of Bonfire Night on 5 November. | The Chief Fire Officers' Association says more needs to be done to tackle a thriving underground trade ahead of Bonfire Night on 5 November. |
| The call comes despite new controls introduced across Britain in 2004. | The call comes despite new controls introduced across Britain in 2004. |
| Ministers said current laws were adequate but they would be willing to look at any new concerns raised. | |
| Under the law passed in 2004, fireworks can only be sold by unlicensed dealers between 15 October and 10 November to coincide with bonfire night celebrations, or in the days leading up to the New Year, Chinese New Year and major religious festivals. | Under the law passed in 2004, fireworks can only be sold by unlicensed dealers between 15 October and 10 November to coincide with bonfire night celebrations, or in the days leading up to the New Year, Chinese New Year and major religious festivals. |
| The supply of fireworks to under-18s is banned and shipments are tracked. | The supply of fireworks to under-18s is banned and shipments are tracked. |
| But the CFOA says more needs to be done to keep a closer eye on distribution and restrict sales to children. | But the CFOA says more needs to be done to keep a closer eye on distribution and restrict sales to children. |
| Police escorts | Police escorts |
| Fire chiefs say fireworks are being sold at car boot sales or even outside schools. | Fire chiefs say fireworks are being sold at car boot sales or even outside schools. |
| The illegal trade makes it easier for under 18s to get hold of fireworks and they are increasingly using them as a weapon. | The illegal trade makes it easier for under 18s to get hold of fireworks and they are increasingly using them as a weapon. |
| People may be saving themselves a few quid but I don't think I would want to put my family in front of a box of explosives not knowing where they have come from Chris Case, Merseyside Fire and Rescue | People may be saving themselves a few quid but I don't think I would want to put my family in front of a box of explosives not knowing where they have come from Chris Case, Merseyside Fire and Rescue |
| A spate of attacks on fire engines in Merseyside has led to engines being equipped with cameras and given police escorts when heading to known "trouble hotspots". | |
| Mike Hagen, deputy chief fire officer for Merseyside and the CFOA's lead on fireworks, said more effective tracking is required. | |
| "I want to see a far more robust tracking mechanism for these explosives, when they enter the country there should not be any point where we don't know where they are," he said. | "I want to see a far more robust tracking mechanism for these explosives, when they enter the country there should not be any point where we don't know where they are," he said. |
| The CFOA has also warned that careless storage and handling of illegally stored fireworks is a growing and dangerous problem. | The CFOA has also warned that careless storage and handling of illegally stored fireworks is a growing and dangerous problem. |
| Chris Case, group manager of Merseyside Fire and Rescue, said: | Chris Case, group manager of Merseyside Fire and Rescue, said: |
| "People may be saving themselves a few quid but I don't think I would want to put my family in front of a box of explosives not knowing where they have come from." | "People may be saving themselves a few quid but I don't think I would want to put my family in front of a box of explosives not knowing where they have come from." |
| Organised crime | |
| Illegal fireworks seized by his department probably started out legal, but had been sold on to unregulated dealers, he said. | Illegal fireworks seized by his department probably started out legal, but had been sold on to unregulated dealers, he said. |
| "Whoever buys these at the hall door doesn't know where they have come from, how they have been stored or what condition they are in," he added. | "Whoever buys these at the hall door doesn't know where they have come from, how they have been stored or what condition they are in," he added. |
| Police have said they believe much of the illegal trade is funding organised crime and could make up as much as 20% of the total fireworks business. | Police have said they believe much of the illegal trade is funding organised crime and could make up as much as 20% of the total fireworks business. |
| THE FIREWORKS REGULATIONS 2004 ENABLED: Firework sales to be restricted to specific periods in the yearPolice to act against under 18s possessing fireworks in a public placePolice to act against those found being in possession of 'professional' fireworks, or those not intended for public useThose selling fireworks in excess of 50kg net explosive content | |
| The fireworks industry says it is working within the new laws but agrees that more needs to be done. | |
| Andy Hubble, from the British Pyrotechnists Association, told BBC One's Breakfast there should be better checks to root out illegal fireworks. | |
| "Illegal fireworks are coming into the country, I don't think anybody disputes that, but the actual numbers are not known. | |
| "If you are tracking fireworks from the port of entry right through to the point of sale then you will have that audit trail, and be able to fully track them, and I think the illegal market would finally be scuppered, which would be a great thing." | |
| Consumer affairs minister Gareth Thomas said existing laws were "working well" but that the government was not complacent. | |
| "And that's why I'm very willing to meet with the Local Government Association or the Chief Fire Officers' Association if they have particular evidence that they want to bring before us." |