Fireworks can be extremely dangerous if they are misused

The Home Office hopes the new measure will help curb the number of incidents in the run-up to Bonfire Night.

"Fireworks are fun, but in the hands of an irresponsible minority, they can also make people's life a misery," Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said.

Under the new rules, fireworks cannot be set off between 2300 and 0700.

The curfew can be broken only on Bonfire Night, Diwali and the New Year celebrations.

'Loutish behaviour'

It has also been made illegal for minors to carry or use fireworks in a public place.

Ms Blears said: "Law-abiding families should not have to live in fear of yobs throwing firecrackers, explosives smashing windows or loud bangs going off night after night."

She added that fireworks could cause harassment, intimidation and in the worst cases, serious harm.

Consumer Minister Gerry Sutcliffe voiced the need to drive "loutish behaviour" off the streets.

I say that we should jail the yobs, rather than fine them Paulo, London, UK

He said his department had brought in new laws to tighten up rules on the use and sale of fireworks.

This aimed to prevent their anti-social use by "stopping yobs being a danger to themselves and others".

The Association of Chief Police Officers welcomed the new fines and said it was important for parents to be aware that underage children are not supposed to use adult fireworks in public places.

Fireworks, often bought on the illegal market, have been used in a growing number of attacks on police stations, cars and phone boxes across the UK over the past year.

Deterrent power

The measures have also been welcomed by retailers.

Niraj Chawla, vice-chairman of the British Fireworks Association (BFA), said: "We hope this will bring an end to the anti-social use of fireworks."

He added: "The BFA has worked with the government over the last two years to draw up these measures and we welcome them wholeheartedly.

"It is excellent to know that police now have the power to prosecute on the grounds of possessing fireworks."

Mr Chawla said on-the-spot fines were a particularly good idea as they acted as a deterrent.

Do you think the new laws are necessary, or are they heavy-handed? Tell us your experiences of fireworks.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

I say that we should jail the yobs, rather than fine them! Nothing else will work against these morons of society!
Paulo, London, UK

Every small element of our lives is now being regulated against. How can we hope to remember all these new laws? Chaz Bocock, UK

Over-the-top. Every small element of our lives is now being regulated against. How can we hope to remember all these new laws? Labour have brought in almost 700 new laws in the last seven years. It was Churchill who once said: "If you have 10,000 regulations, you destroy all respect for the law."
Chaz Bocock, UK

It's about time too! There is a park behind my house and louts are always letting fireworks off, especially during the early hours of the weekend. However I do question whether or not the police in my area will actually respond to a report of firework misuse or not, as they took 60 minutes to get a gun incident last year!
Justin Maxwell, UK

The police don't appear to care when hundreds of people lose a night's sleep John Brown, Wales

Residents in my village have had to suffer the stupidity of one person's love of all-night firework parties for years. The police don't appear to care when hundreds of people lose a night's sleep. I made numerous phone calls to the police up to 3am when the last 'party' took place. I was told the person had been asked to stop, when the police should have arrested him.
John Brown, Wales

The public sale of fireworks should be totally banned. Anybody can go to an organised event if they wish to. I have had fireworks fired at me while walking our two dogs. I have also had a firework thrown into our garage where myself and my young son were working. He was seven at the time and is still scared of fireworks.
Neil Lancaster, UK

It astonishes me that there have not been more injuries when you see the misuse and abuse of fireworks Allan Healey, Cornwall, England

As a special effects operator retired from the film industry it astonishes me that there have not been more injuries when you see the misuse and abuse of fireworks. Pyrotechnics of all types must be treated with caution and respect. I would not allow anyone to purchase fireworks unless trained in the health and safety aspects as well as how to use them safely.
Allan Healey, Cornwall, England

The exemption for Diwali is foolish and highly dangerous to the public, particularly airline passengers. Large fireworks have often exploded right alongside airliner flight deck windows and have the capability to 'blind' pilots at a critical flight phase. It has happened to me. Now, they will all claim 'Diwali exemption' and, if prosecuted under the Air Navigation Order, probably get away with it!
Stephen Duncan, London, England

Fireworks are a menace. I have a dog that becomes a nervous wreck when she hears bangers. If it were only for a few days around 5 November it wouldn't be so bad, but it's started already. Moreover there are folk who insist on starting their 'displays' at 11.30pm when they arrive home half-cut from the pub, and continue into the early hours. No good for those of us who are up at 5am for work. Therefore I fully support on-the-spot fines.
Chris, UK

Round this time last year in Medway a new seasonal pastime became all the rage for some of the local citizens - blowing up phoneboxes with fireworks. It was I believe already illegal to do so before these new regulations came into force. Those who have no hesitation to break the law now just have a few more to ignore. Making new laws does not make new socially responsible people.
Turner, UK

Fireworks are weapons of mass destruction! I've had fireworks put through my letterbox which could have set fire to the house and burned my family and myself alive. I say ban the sale of fireworks to members of the public and only permit their use at official celebrations agreed with the police beforehand. Anyone who breaks such regulations should be given hefty jail sentences.
Alan, England

These laws are a step in the right direction. But why stop at minors? Does anyone have a reason to set off fireworks in a public place? And does the law apply in Scotland?
Paul Taylor, Scotland

Fireworks should be licensed so that they could only be supplied to people who have passed a safety accreditation. Of course some people would consider this an intrusion into a private matter, but misusing fireworks puts other people in danger too.
Alan Iwi, UK

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