As the firework season approaches, South Yorkshire Police are launching a tough renewed crackdown on antisocial behaviour. Operation Mischief 2004 will see officers joining forces with local authorities to use an array of new powers to combat the problem, supported by increased foot patrols and police visibility in communities. Test purchasing will take place in shops and off licences across the country - identifying retailers who fuel misery in communities be selling fireworks and alcohol to under 18s illegally.

I don't think I've ever seen a police man in my "community", so any increase would be nice.

Well considering the number of complaints on here about the Police not doing anything about fireworks we can expect lots of positive feedback on this one eh?

hope they come round here!
There`s always fireworks goin off and sometimes as late as 2am.
The last ones made the house shake and i was scared for my pc what with the vibrations. I don`t think that the problem will ever go away from this area and i think that the people know it and do it all the more as they feel immune to the law.

The problem is it's virtually impossible to catch someone who sets off a fireworks bomb at 3am in the morning (as per last year).

First you wake up (in a shocked 'was that a dirty bomb, are we all going to die' manner) and then you have to phone the police to tell them there was a large blast - but you have no idea where it was. What we need is a satellite over Sheffield, like a giant CCTV camera... ;)

yep i agree i would definately be in favour of the cctv and it would make lots of people think twice, The only problem with it would be that we would probably see even more of the hood brigade trying to hide their faces, although if there were enough cams etc then it wouldn`t matter as they could be followed electronically until they finally decided to go home then BINGO!!!

Last year we had loads of kids throwing fireworks at the cars on Abbeydale Road (Nether Edge area). Fingers crossed that this will make some impact on the problem.

I'm still flabbergasted that we sell gunpowder to the general public at all. Surely the solution is to sell only to people with pyrotechnic licences. They're the ones that put on the organised displays with proper safety measures taken. Given the proportion of fireworks sold to the public that are only used for their explosive value (probably over half), is this not just common sense? You're supposed to have a licence for a gun, but these things can make far more mess of another human being. And they self destruct the evidence.

i completely agree i don`t think that fireworks should be on sale to the general public at all. I really don`t think that most of the retailers supplying under age kids with them will be caught, one of my friends was talking about this only yesterday and it seems that what happens in some cases is this, the retailer will only sell to kids that are known to them and only when there is no one else in the shop, therefore kids that frequent the shop for sweets etc get the "reward" of being able to buy whatever they want but only when the shop is otherwise empty. There is going to be no way that the retailers doing this are going to get caught as the kids are not going to tell anyone where they get the fireworks and the retailer has a guarranteed outlet that is not going to get them into any trouble and they are able to line their pockets all the more.

Can't someone design a firework (preferably a big one) that goes off 2 minutes after it leaves the shop?

That'd stop the buggers!

Or perhaps we could apply a tax to them that covers the cost of the damage caused each year. How much does a phone box cost? Where's my calculator? Well that's about £7,485.23 per firework for non-pyro' licencees. Does that solve the problem?

how about one thats trackable so it can be seen how long it`s in the shop, when it`s sold and who takes it where? Then they`d be caught red handed

I used to play with fireworks when I was a kid, but we didn't blow-up phone boxes and stuff. But the fireworks were a lot quieter then than the 50 magatonne ones you get now that blow your windows out and make you deaf for 2 hours.

Originally posted by Strix
I'm still flabbergasted that we sell gunpowder to the general public at all.
See my recent poll 'Should there be a ban on the public sale of fireworks'
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12533&highlight=ban+fireworks

Originally posted by dial
how about one thats trackable so it can be seen how long it`s in the shop, when it`s sold and who takes it where? Then they`d be caught red handed

Perhaps they should be sold pre-ignited, and shoved down a throat?

Does any body have any sensible solutions that CAN be implemeted? I'm still for the retail ban.

You're right tho, the little sods will find something else to do. I'm also in favour of axing off thumbs. Ever tried to hotwire a car with no thumbs?

And there was me trying to appear all reasonable. I think I've blown it.

Isn't there a 'conspiracy to cause an explosion' offence? Can't the blighters be walloped with that when they're caught?

Originally posted by Strix
Isn't there a 'conspiracy to cause an explosion' offence? Can't the blighters be walloped with that when they're caught?

I don't think so......like the thumb idea though :thumbsup:

Good innit? You'd only have to lose one to think better next time! In fact, most people would be wary if they knew somebody who had been punished this way. And you'd be able to spot a criminal quite easily!

Hang on. The IRA used to do something similar - knee capping. Perhaps I'll re-think that one.

Wern't any of you guys young once ?

Of course we were, but we didn't go around blowing phone boxes up and terrorising OAP's.

There's no difficulty in producing spectacular looking fireworks that make little noise. Ban anything that "BANGS" and imprison retailer, importers and users who flout the ban.

DERA were working on a rather chilling piece of technology that could determine the origin of a projectile by locating the source of the bang using widely spaced directional mics and software.

This would (once you have factored in the not uncomplicated acoustics of Sheffield) allow the police to pinpoint fireworks (and indeed gunshots) that occur outside, from a central location.

They can then despatch airborne fire copters to douse the offending area with 3,500 gallons of water. That should do it

How about scrambling an armed response helicopter?

Instead of a family, wasting a £100 on a couple of boxes of fireworks...

for what? Maybe a maximum of a couple of minutes of whizz, fizz, bang....?

Why on earth can't they go to a municipal display, like at Don Valley stadium, and pay, what is it, a fiver a head?

It'd be cheaper in cost...

The advantage of a bigger display?

what is folks' problem with going that route?

the noise and nusiance would be confined to the weekend (or day) of november 5th itself.

My dog and I would not need to spend three months on tranquilisers because of the noise....

and the shopkeepers would not "need" to sell fireworks..... either to adults, or to underaged kids... which would clear up 90% of the nusaince factor, regarding fireworks, in one fell swoop.

I agree with earlier comments about sales only to those holding a firearms and pyrotechnic licence. for use at an organised, registered display...

and I would further add, that the law should say that the fire service must be notified, and in attendance.

fireworks are covered under firearms law... that law should be enforced. no one chould have a legitimate reason for being in psession of fireworks outside the organisaed display.

Mr PT, half-jokingly, says that fireworks should be restricted in sale; only available for purchase, between midday and five pm on the day of November 5th itself.

lol

I am inclined to agree.

I live in nether edge, and I am so fed up of being woken at 2/ 3 am by airbomb repeaters going off. it is stupid, it is unnecessary.

And, most frustratingly, when I call the police, they just don't give a monkeys about it.

PT

The only way kids are going to get hold of fireworks is through uncaring adults. These could be shopkeepers relatives or friends.

The kids do what kids do, have fun, experiment with various things and if its fun they'll do it again.

Its the adults that need educating I think, and what can we do? Would you lobby your local corner shop and ask them to sign a charter saying they will not sell fireworks or you will not use their facility again or something similar?

What would local people see as acheivable is removing fireworks from the streets and sticking together through the next few months. Megaphones and plaquards at the ready.

DERA changed to QinetiQ a few years ago and the mic and sat system worked well. Used the Gazelles to track the triangulated co-ordinates and spot the culprits with a laser before bringing in the Jaguar with its bombs. I think this stuff is unclassified?

I wish those firework bomb yobs WERE caught red-handed - but only after the exploded firework had been allowed to burn their arm off for about 15 minutes ...

Originally posted by Plain Talker
Instead of a family, wasting a £100 on a couple of boxes of fireworks...

for what? Maybe a maximum of a couple of minutes of whizz, fizz, bang....?

Why on earth can't they go to a municipal display, like at Don Valley stadium, and pay, what is it, a fiver a head?

It'd be cheaper in cost...

The advantage of a bigger display?

what is folks' problem with going that route?


PT
I agree, organised public displays only. I think there is a problem in that there is only one one option, at the Don Valley stadium - traffic jams, eveyone trying to get there at the same time, etc. Everyone trying to leave at the same time...
Only ten years ago (and beyond) at least three main sheffield parks all had FREE organised displays put on by the council - Endcliffe Park, Hillsborough Park, Graves Park - point being, YOU DID NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR FROM YOUR HOME TO GET TO A SAFE ORGANISED EVENT. And there was a huge fenced off bonfire at each! OK, thats back in the good old days, as PT says, you pay at Don Valley, I'm sure people would pay at local parks.
(personally I would be happy with FREE in this instance, ie out of the public purse):rant:

I like 'free' and 'accessable' (combined with a retail ban). Just think how much money the council would save by not having to repair the damage to public property. Quids in.

Originally posted by Patrick2000
I wish those firework bomb yobs WERE caught red-handed - but only after the exploded firework had been allowed to burn their arm off for about 15 minutes ...

I hope you don't have children.

My son is now grown.

When he was a child, we used to take him and his half-brother to the fireworks displays at the council parks, Norfolk park when we lived around that area, and firth park, when we lived on Pitsmoor,

The displays were excellent, welll organised and *FREE*.
It is such a shame that the council now only organise the one display, at Don Valley.

however, regarding where and when fireworks are let off... and re the idiocy of those leting them off at 2/3 am...

Had I, or his father, *EVER* caught our lad, trying to buy fireworks, underaged, or taking part in the "yobbery" and stupidity of letting fireworks off in the street/ late at night, we would have planted our size-nines, and size thirteens feet *so* far up his backside, that we would have been able to use his toothbrush to polish our shoes.

We are fortunate, our lad has more than one brain cell, and he would not have taken part in that sort of stunt. (and, no, that's not an "our child is an angel, he'd never put a foot out of line..." sort of statement... our lad is not one of those "PLA"'s.. a "Precious Little Angel" He just knew what was acceptable behaviour, and that we expected those standards from him. We were lucky, he lived up to those standards.)

PT

We used to go to the bonfire in High Hazels park, it was great, I wish the council would start doing them again.

Originally posted by Plain Talker
My son is now grown.

When he was a child, we used to take him and his half-brother to the fireworks displays at the council parks, Norfolk park when we lived around that area, and firth park, when we lived on Pitsmoor,

PT
I KNEW there where more parks than the three I mentioned that had civic displays. so everyone was in easy reach of a safe, free, public display.
Bring 'em back:thumbsup:

Originally posted by draggletail
I NEW there where more parks than the thee I mentioned that had civic displays. so everyone was in easy reach of a safe, free, public display.
Bring 'em back:thumbsup:

(rousing cheer from the PT quarter)

HEAR!! HEAR!!!!

Amen!!

Preach it brother!! (etc, etc!)

indeed, bring them back! Soonest!!!!

PT

Originally posted by Plain Talker
(rousing cheer from the PT quarter)

HEAR!! HEAR!!!!

Amen!!

Preach it brother!! (etc, etc!)

indeed, bring them back! Soonest!!!!

PT

Indeed, more organised displays instead of this anti-social menacing.

I actually wrote to the local MP last year following a bad night of fireworks here in Stannington, spurred on one particular Saturday night when I was trying to watch a film on Sky and all I could hear was the BANG BANG BANG of fireworks.

Got a response as well, all official like from teh House of Commons.

Credit where it is due there do not appear to be anywhere near the amount of fireworks going of at all times this year.Well done :)

Don't sit back and wait for "t'council". Get off your backsides and turn your vacuous little spaces back into communities.
Kids only control your spaces because YOU DONT!
They are the ones out-of-doors while everyone watches Corry etc.

I live in nether edge, and I am so fed up of being woken at 2/ 3 am by airbomb repeaters going off. it is stupid, it is unnecessary.


Well this afternoon i have been out and bought a 5pack of whistling thunder, tested one out, and the rest shall be discharged when i return back from a night out celebrating Sheffield United's win at Crewe tomorrow night.

They make a whistling noise followed by a extremely loud bang.

So that makes you just as bad as the others. Whats the point. You are just perpetuating the problem!!!!!!:loopy:

Originally posted by cgksheff
Don't sit back and wait for "t'council". Get off your backsides and turn your vacuous little spaces back into communities.
Kids only control your spaces because YOU DONT!
They are the ones out-of-doors while everyone watches Corry etc.

What exactly do you propose?? The nights are dark, some **** is letting off fireworks two or three streets away, where, exactly? Would you like to go out in the dark, cold, walk about the steep slopes we have here in the hope of finding some gits letting airbomb repeaters off in the back garden?

This is the problem - antisocial firework noise is not necessarily right outside your front door. As I post this (12.30 Midnight) fireworks have been going off in the 'distance' for the last 20 mins. My dog is terified. Do you propose I walk around bl**dy high storrs to 'find' the ***** at this time of night.
Get a grip!!

Well this afternoon i have been out and bought a 5pack of whistling thunder, tested one out, and the rest shall be discharged when i return back from a night out celebrating Sheffield United's win at Crewe tomorrow night.

They make a whistling noise followed by a extremely loud bang. [/B]

Well the Blades won and the fireworks got let off, 4 extremely loud bangs of celebration at 2am.

Hope it didn't wake you up.

Well it seemed to have be working until tonight. :( Not heard many going off at all but tonight they're getting set off constantly in Handsworth.

Originally posted by jessycar
Well it seemed to have be working until tonight. :( Not heard many going off at all but tonight they're getting set off constantly in Handsworth.

Yes plenty of fireworks going off in Handsworth tonight, also loads of trick or treaters banging on the door.

I think fireworks should be sold with the price including a huge deposit which is refundable on return of the spent item.
I'm sick of picking up rockets off my garden.