Officers across the region are gearing up to use new legislation to rid our streets of firework misuse - and outlining the ways in which the public can help.

New regulations make provision for people to be dealt with for setting off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except for on specified festival days. South Yorkshire Police is pointing out however, that the public can help a great deal by providing detailed information, and by understanding the way that offficers will respond to complaints.

Chief Inspector David Hartley, heading up South Yorkshire Police?s seasonal antisocial behaviour response Operation Mischief said: "Residents can help us to help them. Police officers are keen to enforce the new law, but we can only do that if the complainant can provide us with a detailed location where the fireworks are being set off, or some information about the person doing it, such as a name or description. This will give any initial police response the best chance of success, and make any follow up investigation all the more effective. Vague calls about fireworks going off without this kind of detail makes any effective response very difficult indeed. We cannot send an officer immediately every time a firework goes off, but what we can guarantee is that where there is sufficient information about offences we will pursue the offenders with vigour and ensure appropriate action is taken against them to help eradicate this problem."

Fixed penalty notices leading to £80 fines can now also be issued for four firework-related offences - including possession in a public place by a person under 18.

Possession of Category 4, or display-type fireworks without authorisation is also an offence under new firework regulations, brought in this year under the Fireworks Act 2003.

Throwing fireworks in a public place can also earn offenders an £80 penalty, although in the more serious cases they will be prosecuted at court, leading to a maximum jail term of 6 months and / or a £5000 fine.

Ch Insp Hartley, added: "The fixed penalty notices are another tool in our armoury against the misery that firework misuse can cause in our neighbourhoods. For more serious incidents the offenders will still be dealt with by the courts and can be imprisoned for firework offences, but this new power gives us another option to enforce the law quickly and effectively. People need to be aware that if they break the law they will be dealt with. It may cost them money, but in the more serious cases it can ultimately cost them their liberty."

Extra officer patrols and test purchasing of fireworks are currently taking place as part of Operation Mischief.

Anyone who has information about the illegal sale of fireworks should contact CrimeStoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Originally posted by Geoff
Officers across the region are gearing up to use new legislation to rid our streets of firework misuse - and outlining the ways in which the public can help.


I'm glad proactive steps are being taken this year. After the destruction left in the aftermath of last years 'festivities' I can hardly wait to see what use the local ne'er-do-wells think of for large amounts of explosives...

Will police patrols be extended to better cover housing estates and public parks for the duration of the 'fireworks' season? Reason being that I live in Longley and the park plus the 4 greens make ideal places for juvenile delinquency of the pyrotechnic variety.

Its great to see this plan coming into action after years of planning. Most estates around Sheffield have seen this problem escalate and my town is no exception.
The initiative seems to be working so far with just a few cracks yesterday tea time in the park. This was to mark the opening of the the fireworks shop on Dundas Road. The guy letting the fireworks off seemed to be over 18 but had a good crowd of youngsters with him.

I would like to see posters advertising the nearest professional run displays so people know where the displays are and not have to buy their own fireworks.

I bought some a few years ago and after 15 minutes there all gone so last year we went to Featherstone Rovers RLFC and had a few pints and a disco too. Great night out !

Originally posted by Hadron

I would like to see posters advertising the nearest professional run displays so people know where the displays are and not have to buy their own fireworks.


We were discussing this a few weeks ago and saying the council should start doing the big bonfires in the parks like they used to.

I am glad to see there is now a plan of action but I am sure it will be hard to Police in some areas.

For the past few nights there have been fireworks set off round my area after 11pm. You can`t pinpoint where they are and I am certainly not going out to see.
They seem to be set off in several diffrent places at once.

I don`t like fireworks and have not bought any for over 5 years. I don`t mind organised displays though.

One of the most silly pieces of legislation ever passed. I appreciate it's aimed at public areas/under 18's/display-type fireworks, but what's actually going to happen is the police are going to be swamped by calls from miserable gits who thought they might have heard a firework within 5 miles.
I'd rather the police were out catching "real" criminals rather than anyone who decides to have a few fireworks at a party.

i'm glad these laws have been sorted. i hate fireworks, its quite bad in high green especially with there been quite a few open parks & football fields for kids to go & hang arround on in the evenings. i've had two rockets shot at me from cars & walking across the field on teh way to my cousins house. i really have a fear of fireworks now, my BF bought a pack of rockets last week & we let one off just after dark to see what they were like. i cant even go neer themin the house.

in doncaster from what i have seen & heard the police have been really good so far, my BF lives in donny & i'm moving there soon. i was there friday & a house on the estate where he live they were setting fireworks off till 4am, i'd had enough by 2am & called the police & fortunatley i could see from which yard they were comming from out of the bedroom window. i called them at 3.20ish & they were round within half an hour. apparently they were 2 14 & 15y/o & there friends that had been left on there own for the weekend!

i can see how it can back fire tho, people phoning up repeatedly to report fireworks been let off in the next village etc

Originally posted by hotphil
I'd rather the police were out catching "real" criminals rather than anyone who decides to have a few fireworks at a party.

When the fireworks are used to burn, blow up or otherwise mangle private or council property, those responsible are criminals, hence the term 'criminal damage'. Last year I saw 2 phoneboxes, numerous trees, outbuildings and even a neighbours car wrecked through use of fireworks as makeshift bombs. That is what this legislation is to prevent, not some guy setting of rockets for his kids in his own back yard (of which I shall be one, no doubt).

Indeed, but surely there's nothing new in this legislation? Criminal damage is criminal damge. Nuisance noise is nuisance noise. Selling age restricted products to minors is selling age restricted products to minors etc etc. I just think that the police are now going to be swamped with completely fruitless calls where they're called out to an area, spend half an hour looking for the miscreants that the reporter thought they saw run off in that direction, not be able to catch them, and if they did so, be bound in so much red tape because they're 15.
I just think this a waste-of-time law, that's all.

At last, the Police doing the right thing, but as someone who has been fined by the Police for one of their stealth tax cameras, why should I help them?
Nope, can't find any reason for doing so as I'm now classed as one of the criminal fraternity. Perhaps the Chief Inspector would like to get off his idle a##se and get out on the streets himself?

Set some fireworks off in a bus lane and I'll guarantee you'll get caught :D

A lot of these laws are passed which the police find it difficult to enforce. Why not try a comprise? Most of the complaints come from the noise generated by these so called fireworks which effects pets as well as humans,why not insist on fireworks that are for sale to the public be without these bangs and cracks.ie the visual ones are ok ,the bangers etc are not.Any retailer selling fireworks that do not conform to this regulation can be dealt with by the authorities severely.
Waiting with baited breath for the replies from the dogooders who will say its an infringement of a persons freedom of choice!!!

Originally posted by KangaREW
At last, the Police doing the right thing, but as someone who has been fined by the Police for one of their stealth tax cameras, why should I help them?
Nope, can't find any reason for doing so as I'm now classed as one of the criminal fraternity. Perhaps the Chief Inspector would like to get off his idle a##se and get out on the streets himself?

shouldn't have been speeding in the first place then should you?

I find it incredible in these turbulent times that anybody can purchase fireworks which in this day and age are actually bombs.Set one off in a crowded place with afew nails strapped to it and carnage will occur,you 've seen what they can do to phone boxes.Isay ban all fireworks and let local councils run bonfires and fireworks at organised events.

What is the matter with our local council ?

They appear to have the power to outlaw other things like dropping litter and dogs fouling the pavement; - why not outlaw the sale of explosive fireworks except to approved groups licensed by the council for organised display ?

Originally posted by nick2
We were discussing this a few weeks ago and saying the council should start doing the big bonfires in the parks like they used to.

The only problem was that idiots used to start them early, ruining it for everyone.

Originally posted by Lickszz
The only problem was that idiots used to start them early, ruining it for everyone.

Yeah, but they could just turn-up on the day with four trucks full of wood and build it there and then ?

After a walk through the park this morning I found reminents of fired rockets in the park. Although there are lots of suppliers I would hazard a guess that these fireworks were bought at the shop on Dundas Road.

It looks like the main place to go in Sheffield is the Sheffield Wednesday Football Ground. News (http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~578740,00.html?) See going out in Sheffield section.

I find it incredible in these turbulent times that anybody can purchase fireworks which in this day and age are actually bombs
and while we're at it, ban the sale of nails, hammers, pens, knives, forks, paper and anything heavier than 200g or with sharp corners, in fact anything that could be used incorrectly and hurt someone. Instead we can provide everyone with a nice foam romper suit to make sure they don't hurt themselves.

I will reserve judgment on this subject until after Fireworks night. Last year it was like living in a war zone, with amongst other things rockets being fired up and down the road outside my house. Sadly, you have to legislate for the lowest common denominator, not the more sensible members of society.

Originally posted by hotphil
and while we're at it, ban the sale of nails, hammers, pens, knives, forks, paper and anything heavier than 200g or with sharp corners, in fact anything that could be used incorrectly and hurt someone. Instead we can provide everyone with a nice foam romper suit to make sure they don't hurt themselves.

Assuming that is a sarcastic comment, would you also see bans lifted on firearms so that anyone over 16 can buy them, and use them in a built up area provided they don't hurt anyone? I would imagine that you would also support lifting the ban on members of the public being able to by grenades and mortars and RPGs too?

You don't accidentally cause major burns to a bus queue of people with a fork; I would have thought that much is obvious.

Likewise, a hammer is unlikely to set a house on fire, and cannot be fired at targets hundreds of yards away.

It's not just large firework display items require skill and knowledge and a demonstrable awareness of safety to be used; the same is true for smaller fireworks, firecrackers etc. and there comes a point when the firework is so large and dangerous that it requires the services of a proffessional to operate it.

The same is also true of Forks, Masses, Knives and all your other facile examples. Small blunt butter knives do not require much safety handling knowledge - but large, electrically operated guillotines do.

But even a small firework such as a starshell can be very dangerous if used improperly or worse still, with malice.

if that wasn't a sarcastic post, then I think you need to "reprioritise you risk assessment strategy" :D

The point I was trying to make was that just because something can be misused and cause injury is not really grounds to ban it. Granted though, there does have to be a cut-off point, a five year old being able to buy an RPG would be sillly. Clearly a five year old couldn't be expected to be fully aware of the safety implications for himself and others. Over eighteens however (who society deem suitably mature to breed/drive/vote) should be expected to be know what they're up to.
If fireworks are age-restricted then that should be enough. There's a fine line between protecting people and nannying them - in my opinion this new law has simply moved that line one notch closer to nannying.

I absolutely agree with you on the nannying point, but perhaps we disagree where the cut-off point is.

Perhaps distinguishing between 'domestic fireworks' - the sort that are safe to use in a typical garden, and display fireworks' - the kind that use mortar tubes to launch gigantic starshells and thunderflashes. Make domestic fireworks available as they are now, and make display fireworks available only to registered companies.

banning fireworks is not a solution - i think we agree.

Originally posted by nick2
Yeah, but they could just turn-up on the day with four trucks full of wood and build it there and then ?

I don't really know how long it takes. In those days they built them and have them ready up to a week before the actual event.

Well this bit of sunny sharrow is usually a bit of a warzone all day and all night at this time of year. This year I have hardly heard any fireworks.

Originally posted by spiffymonkey
I'm glad proactive steps are being taken this year. After the destruction left in the aftermath of last years 'festivities' I can hardly wait to see what use the local ne'er-do-wells think of for large amounts of explosives...

Will police patrols be extended to better cover housing estates and public parks for the duration of the 'fireworks' season? Reason being that I live in Longley and the park plus the 4 greens make ideal places for juvenile delinquency of the pyrotechnic variety.
i live in rotherham we have them all year round not once a year
worse when theres a paki wedding i

awoolen, i think 'paki' is not the write term to use! where are all the moderators when u need them.

Originally posted by Lickszz
The only problem was that idiots used to start them early, ruining it for everyone.
they dont start early in rotherham they never stop
paki shops sell them all year round police do nothink
no laws in rotherham for pakis other wise your a racist