The proposals include restricting the availability of noisier fireworks and banning riskier products
The government is looking to bring in tighter restrictions regarding fireworks and pyrotechnics in a bid to clamp down on higher-risk products and public misuse. It comes after Harrow experienced its “worst year” of fireworks misuse last year, with the council taking more than 300 calls about incidents in the borough.
Last month, the UK Government launched a public consultation around the use of fireworks and pyrotechnics after their use has become “a growing concern”. Recent incidents sparked a series of complaints and petitions calling for stronger controls due to concerns around safety and disturbance.
The consultation, which runs until October 7, is seeking residents’ views on its proposals to implement tighter rules around the sale and use of fireworks. The changes include: restricting the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public; add products deemed to be carrying “unacceptable risks” to the banned list; and review the regulations around products currently classified as lower risk.
The move comes after Roxborough Residents’ Association Committee, Brandon To, described 2025 as “the worst year” for fireworks misuse in Harrow – despite the council launching a crackdown on the “reckless and antisocial use of fireworks” in streets and parks.
Mr To said he “saw a firecracker thrown from a car towards oncoming vehicles” and a man “holding a box of fireworks on his head and [he] was shooting them up” outside residents’ windows during celebrations in October last year.
Since then Mr To has been raising the issue with local MPs and councillors in an attempt to limit their misuse. He feels the consultation provides “a real window” of opportunity for residents to voice their concerns ahead of Diwali, Bonfire Night and New Year celebrations later this year.
Mr To told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Last year, Harrow was affected exceptionally badly by fireworks during Diwali. Firecrackers were thrown at moving cars, nearly causing crashes at roundabouts, and residents in high-rise flats will never forget multi-shot barrages exploding directly outside their windows.
“It has reached a point where my own family is considering leaving Harrow during Diwali this year just because it was too much distress for our elderly. I know many local families with pets feel the exact same anxiety, with some still traumatised after pets ran away in fear last year.”
Fireworks cannot be set off in Harrow between 11pm and 7am, but are allowed until 1am on Chinese New Year, Diwali, and New Year’s Eve, and until midnight on Bonfire Night. Last year, Harrow Council deployed enforcement teams from 6pm to 10pm every evening for three weeks from October 17 to advise businesses and residents about their correct use.
The local authority said it would take action against those “who think the rules don’t apply to them”, with fines up to £100 and set up a dedicated phone line for people to report issues. Last year it said the enforcement team had witnessed “completely unacceptable behaviour” and took more than 300 calls about incidents – with officers preventing 37 of those that could have been dangerous.
Mr To added: “We’ve been urging local MPs and the Harrow Council to act. Now that the Government has opened a national consultation, we finally have a voice. I sincerely urge anyone affected by firework misuse to submit their views before October 7 so we can find a sustainable way forward to balance celebration with public safety.”
Fireworks are explosive pyrotechnic articles and are regulated by the government to ensure safety and public order, with restrictions focused on their sale and use. They are categorised into four categories: small indoor items; garden fireworks for outdoor home use; larger display-scale fireworks requiring substantial space; and professional-only fireworks that can only be used by trained operators.
The government said: “Fireworks are enjoyed by many for celebrations and cultural events. However, their use has become a growing concern, as seen from public complaints, parliamentary debates, and petitions calling for stronger controls due to the negative impacts on neighbourhood safety, vulnerable people, and animals.”
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