Organised spectacle: not everyone enjoys the noise of Bonfire Night
PETER UNDERWOOD reports on the latest exercise to control the impact of a £500m retail business that keeps our firefighters and paramedics busy throughout the year
There are numerous rules, regulations, even laws, to prohibit the sale of dangerous weapons, knives and firearms, in this country. Yet every year, high street retailers, newsagents and corner shops sell half a billion pounds’ worth of explosive devices over the counter, in some cases to children as young as 16.
The government has just begun a consultation about controls on fireworks, giving the public a say over what changes are needed.
Serious questions about the inappropriate, and dangerous, use of fireworks have been raised again on Croydon social media in the past couple of weeks, as despite all warnings and appeals for commonsense, fireworks have blazed across the evening skies, to land, in many cases, smouldering, on our tinder-dry parks and open spaces.
While public, carefully controlled, firework displays around Bonfire Night, Diwali and New Year remain popular, complaints about the noise from fireworks and their misuse are a regular feature of community discussion groups, seemingly all-year round.
Public concerns about the effects of fireworks on people and animals have continued to grow in recent years.
Traumatising: seeing pets scared by the noise of fireworks can be stressful for owners, too
When people were asked what they liked about fireworks in a poll undertaken in December 2025, 95% said they enjoyed the visual effects. Only 23% enjoyed the noise they make.
When people were asked what they disliked about fireworks, the most popular answer (91%) was the effects on animals. Anyone who has had a pet would have some sympathy with this view and the distressing effects are also seen in farm animals and wildlife. Animals experiencing distress can suffer injury or even death due to the flight response.
Around 70% of respondents to the poll said they disliked the noise effects on the peace and quiet of their community, with more than half of respondents reporting witnessing fireworks being set off in a public place or after 1am (both of which are, even under Britain’s firework legislation, criminal offences).
The noise of fireworks was also disliked because of the distress for individuals with noise sensitivity. These people include those with conditions such as autism and those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, such as some military veterans.
Other complaints about fireworks included the pollution and litter created by fireworks as well as the risks to health and property.
Bonfire Night 2025 was the busiest for the capital’s firefighters in a decade. With the extreme droughts and heatwaves we are now experiencing, the uncontrolled use of fireworks adds to the risk of wildfires.
It should never be forgotten that fireworks are explosives.
In many countries and states across the world, private ownership or use of fireworks is illegal or only permitted with a licence.
In Britain, fireworks are classified into four categories: small indoor items (F1), garden fireworks for outdoor home use (F2), larger display scale fireworks requiring substantial space (F3), and professional-only fireworks that can only be used by trained operators (F4).
Anyone storing more than 5kg of fireworks must be licensed. That licence permits selling F2 and F3 fireworks during traditional festival periods (eg the days around Bonfire Night, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and New Year’s Eve).
F1 products can be sold at any time but retailers must obtain an additional selling licence if they wish to sell F2 and F3 fireworks all year round.
Use of fireworks late at night is curfewed (generally no later than 11pm) and they cannot be set off in public places without permission.
The government are consulting on three areas for change:
Proposal 1 – updating the banned list of F2 and F3 fireworks
Views are being sought on the safety and security risks from F2 and F3 fireworks. Products deemed to be carrying unacceptable risks would be added to the list of banned products or added to the F4 list (fireworks only available to professional users).Proposal 2 – reviewing the regulations on F1 products so they are proportionate and effective
Currently, Christmas crackers are classed as an F1 firework and have a minimum buying age of 12. Given the comparatively low risk level, the government is proposing to remove the age restriction on their purchase. The government is also seeking views on whether the requirements relating to any other pyrotechnics (for example, smoke bombs) should be increased or decreased.Proposal 3 – reducing fireworks noise
The government is seeking views on restricting the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public and is proposing reducing the permitted decibel level from 120 to 110dB. Many campaigns and petitions have called for greater change, so views are also sought on reducing this further to 100 or 90dB. These changes wouldn’t affect professional public displays, as these are notified in advance, are usually staged in open spaces away from homes and gardens, and are less likely to take place during unsociable hours.
The consultation does allow you to provide your own free text answers and so there is an opportunity to express views on different proposals in addition to the three listed above.
This consultation is open until Wednesday October 7.
You can read more about all the proposals and submit your views here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fireworks-and-pyrotechnics-in-the-uk/fireworks-and-pyrotechnics-in-the-uk
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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There is a very sensible guide to Diwali fireworks that covers all these points.
Yet your Labour government is running this firework consultation, Peter. So someone within government must believe that something is not working as well as it ought to.
Perhaps you should take up your do-nothing approach with the firefighters and paramedics who have to deal first-hand with the consequences of the current, “sensible” laws on fireworks?