Fireworks safety and registration

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Home Fireworks safety and registration

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Contact Licensing Authority.

Fireworks play an important role in helping people celebrate special occasions such as Halloween, Bonfire night , New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

Find out more about

Can I store and sell Fireworks?

Any business that wishes to sell or store fireworks or other explosives (depending on the quantities involved) will need either to register with us or obtain a licence from us.

Where can I buy fireworks?

Fireworks can be purchased throughout the year from retailers or suppliers who have a licence to trade all year round. Only those in possession of a licence can trade.

You should buy fireworks from retailers who display the Council’s 'Bright Spark!' poster as they have joined the responsible retailer campaign.

When can fireworks be used?

Bonfire night (5 November) – until midnight
New Year's Eve – 1.00am on the following day
Chinese New Year – 1.00am on the following day
Diwali – 1.00am on the following day

It is illegal to let off fireworks between 11.00pm and 7.00am at any other time.

Reporting firework nuisance or misuse

Firework noise is short lived and in practice it can be difficult to locate the source. If the source can be located and there is regular occurrence of noise that can be proved then a noise abatement notice can be issued by noise control officers.

You should report misuse of fireworks or nuisance noise after curfew hours (after 11.00pm) by calling the firework safety hotline number 020 8478 4679. In an emergency situation, always dial 999.

Who is responsible for taking action against the misuse of fireworks?

The Council, Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade are working together on operation Bright Spark to protect the community from the misuse of fireworks.
Safer Neighbourhoods Teams are supporting a large-scale policing operation and will patrol the streets from 4pm-midnight from 22 October to 7 November 2010. There will be an increased police presence on the street duruing the week starting 25th October and around Halloween and Bonfire nights.
The council's Anti-Social Behaviour service and police will also carry out patrols on estates to deter anti-social behaviour and reassure residents.
The Council and Metropolitan Police will visit shops to inform retailers about the regulations surrounding the safe storage and sales of fireworks.
The Council’s Trading Standards and Licensing Services and Police will be conducting undercover operations where young people are sent into shops to test purchase fireworks and alcohol to crack down on illegal sales.