Scottish Greens urge ban on private firework sales to curb ‘dangerous displays’

The Scottish Greens have called for a ban on private firework sales which they say will stop “dangerous, unorganised displays”.

Ahead of Bonfire Night on Thursday Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman called on the Scottish Government to reduce the “fear and alarm” caused by fireworks.

Ms Chapman highlighted that fireworks can cause stress to vulnerable people, pets and wildlife.

She said: “Bonfire Night can be one of the most dangerous and stressful times of the year for people and animals.

“It is the high point that kicks off a period from the end of October to Hogmanay where fireworks are consistently misused.

“We know that they can cause intense fear in animals.

“Pet owners will be all too familiar with the anxiety faced by much-loved companion animals.

“And of course, wild animals suffer too.

“Only a couple of years ago, we witnessed the tragic death of Roxie in Edinburgh Zoo.

“The Scottish Government cannot continue to ignore the reality – fireworks are explosives, and they are consistently misused.

“The private sale of fireworks must be banned to reduce the fear and alarm they can cause.”

In Scotland it is legal to buy fireworks for personal use, but strict age limits, sales hours, purchase periods and quantity restrictions apply.

Only those aged 18 and over can buy fireworks and it is illegal for adults to make fireworks or pyrotechnics available to anyone under the age of 18.

Fireworks can also only be bought from registered sellers between specific time periods such as October 15 to November 10, December 26 to 31 and the three days before Diwali.

At other times they can only be bought from specialist shops.

Despite these measures, in previous years firework control zones (FCZs) have been introduced in areas across Scotland because of Bonfire Night-related disorder, which saw 61 people arrested across Scotland last year.

In Edinburgh 14 FCZs are in place from October 30 to November 8.

Ms Chapman said there could be a place for organised firework events but called for the ban of “dangerous, unorganised displays”.

She said: “There may well be a place for organised and well-managed events and displays which can be important community celebrations that bring people together.

“However, that cannot justify the widespread sale of fireworks and dangerous, unorganised displays that we see frequently in residential areas.

“And of course, low-noise fireworks and other light displays should be seen as the preferred alternatives for public displays, given what we know about the impact of the noise on people and animals.

“Scottish Green MSPs and councillors led campaigns to introduce firework control zones in our cities and towns, which have limited the impact in some areas.

“But that doesn’t mean we should stop there.

“I hope that we can build on the work Greens across Scotland have done to finally secure an end to private firework sales.”

Community safety minister Kirsten Oswald said: “The Scottish Government does not have the powers to enact a blanket ban on the sale of fireworks.

“Within the powers we do have, we’ve introduced a ban on buying fireworks for, or providing fireworks to, under-18s, and made attacks on emergency workers using fireworks an aggravating factor that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders.

“We have also provided local authorities with powers to designate firework control zones, which ban the use of fireworks in local areas, and these are now in place in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow until after the Bonfire Night period.”