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Deputy mayor seeks tougher laws on fireworks

Aisha Iqbal/BBC A group of people, a mix of adults and children, stand on steps holding up signs with messages such as "Ban Fireworks Now" and "Silence the Skies, Protect Our Lives".Aisha Iqbal/BBC
Campaigners in Bradford say they are constantly sending evidence of nuisance fireworks to the authorities

The deputy mayor of West Yorkshire has pledged to campaign for tougher laws around the anti-social use of fireworks, as a petition seeking a crackdown drew 10,000 signatures.

Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, told the BBC existing legislation was "patchy", and said she would support a ban on fireworks apart from occasions such as Bonfire Night, Diwali, New Year's Eve and Chinese New Year.

Campaigner Inayah Sher, who created the Ban The Menace Fireworks petition, said: "We're doing everything we possibly can as residents. We just need more input from our authorities."

The government said existing laws gave local authorities the power to deal with problem fireworks.

Getty Images A group of people pictured in silhouette as they watch fireworks lighting up the night sky.Getty Images
Calls are growing for tougher government legislation, with West Yorkshire campaigners, police and politicians united on the issue

Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds' Message the Mayor programme, Lowe said: "The legislation is really patchy around what is a crime and what is a nuisance.

She said personal responsibility and "social conscience" had to be a factor, but admitted enforcement could be a challenge and "we need to look at legislation again".

She added that in areas like Bradford, where it was claimed weddings were fuelling the issue, "the venues need to be held accountable".

Watch: Deputy Mayor Alison Lowe says wedding venues must be "held accountable"

Lowe said West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin had raised the topic with ministers in 2021.

She said: "We'll be asking the relevant minister to consider such a ban again because [fireworks] look nice [but] I don' t know why we need them the rest of the year, because the harm they cause far outweighs the benefit."

Ms Sher, who has been demanding urgent action on the issue for several years, said communities were constantly providing evidence to the authorities "but it doesn't seem to go anywhere".

"Why is it that they can't do anything about it?" she said.

"We've spoken to the police, we've sent videos as well of people setting off fireworks after 23:00.

"We've contacted councillors, we've contacted our MPs, we've sent emails to the CEO of Bradford Council.

"We've done everything we're expected to do, but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere."

Legislation around fireworks misuse was last reviewed 20 years ago.

A fresh Misuse of Fireworks Bill, and another on silent fireworks led by Bradford South MP Judith Cummins, have been introduced in Parliament in recent years but have gone no further as yet.

Several Bradford MPs have recently re-stated their support for a strengthening of legislation.

Bradford Council has been calling for tougher laws on the use of fireworks and has backed "a reduction in the noise levels, a ban on the sale of more powerful fireworks and new licensing laws, making it more difficult for the public to buy from wholesalers".

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