10 replies to this topic

[Zee Best]

I know this has probably been asked about a million times on these forums but after searching i couldn't find anything relevent so i assume they would have been pruned.

I'm wanting to know about the law regarding firecrackers in the UK, from my understanding they are now in the catagory of which only professional firework technicions are allowed to purchase/use them, however, what would be the punishment, if any, for having possession of them.

I am 18 and like every teenager/young adult i find pyrotechnics fun, and recently i ordered some french bangers from a french website, the bangers arrived fine so they obviously went through customs, but would there be any punishment if i was found in possession of them?

I don't use them as annoyance, instead, i only ever use them inside of a forest near my house, it dosn't have any kept wildlife or livestock such as horses nearby and is basically a public footpath which dosn't really get used that often and is only used by dog walkers rarely.

If i was caught for any reason using them around these area's would there be any punishment? Would it depend on the person who has caught me, and would they just be confiscated with a warning?

I don't understand the UK law, yes, i can see how they would have been banned from people mis-using them and creating annoyance, but they should have just been moved upto 18 year old purchasing with a fine for anyone under 18 caught with them, the same as fireworks.

In my eyes i could cause more damage with a massive rocket i can buy from a shop than with a small red banger.

Thanks for any information regarding this matter.

[shadowpyro]

It's interesting that this has come up as I've just been giving some thought to something related.
A friend of mine gave me a few of these "rook scarers", M80 looking things which appear to contain a BP composition. Fused with about 2 inches of visco and originally tied onto a slow burning cotton fuse of sorts. They actually pack an impressive punch!

It doesnt appear that these require any kind of license as apparently he got hold of them in some farmer supply shop nearby his home.

In terms of the law, afaik firecrackers are pretty illegal for us general folk! If you were caught by the police for some reason i think the charge would be what ever damage is caused by them rather than the actual illegality of the said item, or if they were used to cause disturbance.

Which kind of contradicts the whole rook scarer thing, as they seem to be FAR more dangerous than these french bangers just by the sheer amount of composition inside!

We've been caught sometime ago back in the days of school ferry trips to the continent and bringing back these little bangers, basically the police confiscated them because the noise scared some lady in the forest walking her dog. Although wasn't given a warning of any sort, in other words a slap on the wrist.

Perhaps someone with some more knowledge of police workings these days could throw in some comments here?

[Mortartube]

The rook scarers aren't classified as fireworks and so don't fall under firework law. I believe that anyone 16 or over can buy them.

It's interesting that this has come up as I've just been giving some thought to something related.
A friend of mine gave me a few of these "rook scarers", M80 looking things which appear to contain a BP composition. Fused with about 2 inches of visco and originally tied onto a slow burning cotton fuse of sorts. They actually pack an impressive punch!

It doesnt appear that these require any kind of license as apparently he got hold of them in some farmer supply shop nearby his home.

In terms of the law, afaik firecrackers are pretty illegal for us general folk! If you were caught by the police for some reason i think the charge would be what ever damage is caused by them rather than the actual illegality of the said item, or if they were used to cause disturbance.

Which kind of contradicts the whole rook scarer thing, as they seem to be FAR more dangerous than these french bangers just by the sheer amount of composition inside!

We've been caught sometime ago back in the days of school ferry trips to the continent and bringing back these little bangers, basically the police confiscated them because the noise scared some lady in the forest walking her dog. Although wasn't given a warning of any sort, in other words a slap on the wrist.

Perhaps someone with some more knowledge of police workings these days could throw in some comments here?

[cooperman435]

Though as they are pytotechnic if removed from the origional rope fuse they must be classified as 1.1g as they are not as origionally made.

[Pyromancer]

As I understand it, it is illegal to SELL bangers to anyone but a firework professional in the UK ( I do explosives expert witness work in court, so I hope I've got this right!).

As such the French sellers have broken UK law, but not their own law on supply of fireworks. However, unless the bangers were shipped by special explosives qualified couriers then they will have broken the european laws that prohibit explosives being sent through the public mail system. So don't assume customs have allowed them though, they probably just didn't spot them.

Possetion of french bangers is not illegal in the UK and you are quite at liberty to set them off in your own back garden (though not after 11pm unless you have licence from the council for your 'Firework Display') - excessive use in your own garden may earn you a noise abaitment order or an ASBO!

However, it is illegal in the UK to discharge a firework in a public place - so making a point of setting them off in your local woods does not give you any legal protection.

It may give you plenty of hiding places though - think about this as it's only illegal if they catch you!

[exat808]

As I understand it, it is illegal to SELL bangers to anyone but a firework professional in the UK ( I do explosives expert witness work in court, so I hope I've got this right!).

As such the French sellers have broken UK law, but not their own law on supply of fireworks. However, unless the bangers were shipped by special explosives qualified couriers then they will have broken the european laws that prohibit explosives being sent through the public mail system. So don't assume customs have allowed them though, they probably just didn't spot them.

Possetion of french bangers is not illegal in the UK and you are quite at liberty to set them off in your own back garden (though not after 11pm unless you have licence from the council for your 'Firework Display') - excessive use in your own garden may earn you a noise abaitment order or an ASBO!

However, it is illegal in the UK to discharge a firework in a public place - so making a point of setting them off in your local woods does not give you any legal protection.

It may give you plenty of hiding places though - think about this as it's only illegal if they catch you!

Generally agree with all above.

There may be issues of how these *firecrackers* are classified? Do they have a UN number assigned? There may be legal issues concerning importation of unclassified explosive articles and as stated above, legal issues in France concerning the placing on the market of these articles.
Our domestic firework legislation is in the main concerned with supply to appropriate persons ( by virtue of age and experience in respect of Cat 4 etc) and when fireworks may be sold. Further control has now been placed on fireworks and pyrotechnic articles by virtue of the Pyrotechnic Articles (safety) Regulations 2010.

Nuisance offences are found in Sect 161 of Highways Act 1980 which creates an offence of discharging a firework within 50ft of the centre of a highway but the offence is only complete if a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered.
Also still with us is Section 80 of the 1875 Explosives Act which creates an offence of throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare.

Perhaps there is a scope for UKPS to put together a guide to legislation in the UK insofar as it affects fireworks.

[spectrum]

From what I have read there many accurate points have been made. My take on this is that:

1. A "banger" is no longer permitted as a cat 2 or cat 3 item in accordance with British Standards, it is therefore cat 4 and can only be held or possessed by a professional person as defined.

2. Items entering the U.K. must be classified and authorised here, it is very unlikely that the french bangers referred to will be covered, they may even contain unauthorised explosives (sulphur / chlorate) and as such there would be potential offences here also.

In a nutshell, whilst I empathise with the situation having been young once myself (and having visited France with the school) the product would probably contravene U.K. regs and so would the person in possession.

It probably doesn't seem fair, and I would not judge, but that is the way it is, and I'm sure it will debated for a long time in this forum.

[pyrotrev]

I remember one of my local schools getting in the news when on one of those exchange visits. Some enterprising lad knowing the good bang that French "bangers" made went over with a decent wad of Euros and brought back the best part of 1,000 of the larger ones. Unfortunately customs found them on a routine inspection and IIRC the bomb squad were called to take them away (not as stupid as it seems as I guess in quantity they'd work as 1.1G).

[Mixologist]

I remember one of my local schools getting in the news when on one of those exchange visits. Some enterprising lad knowing the good bang that French "bangers" made went over with a decent wad of Euros and brought back the best part of 1,000 of the larger ones. Unfortunately customs found them on a routine inspection and IIRC the bomb squad were called to take them away (not as stupid as it seems as I guess in quantity they'd work as 1.1G).

The lad should have received the School Prize for Entrepreneurship, however he probably got suspension instead.

[exat808]

The lad should have received the School Prize for Entrepreneurship, however he probably got suspension instead.

The French seem relaxed enough to sell pyro on ebay -
http://cgi.ebay.fr/L...r-/170524495028

"petard" is french for banger or firecracker

another site here offering a vast range of petards many of which fall into the French legal category K1 ( available to all)


http://www.petard-artifice.fr/

The K1 limit for firecrackers is 3gr NEC for , 10gr for K2, 45gr for K3 and 500gr for K4.
K4 is equivalent to our Cat 4 and requires a licence from the local prefecture (council) to fire them.

[crystal palace fireworks]

According to the `Firework Safety and the Law` page on the Direct Gov website.

It is against the law to; set off or throw fireworks in the street or other public places.

If found guilty by the courts, you could be fined upto £5000, and be imprisoned for upto three months.

You also may be liable for an on-the-spot fine of £80.