(Having established (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3042) that the loud bangs heard around Sheffield are probably just firework "bombs", we can now use this thread to discuss/moan about them!)

My 2 cents...

I heard a very large bang last night around midnight. It sounded like a bomb (i.e. very loud and made the windows shake), but I assumed it was yet more idiots with a load of fireworks. Therefore I didn't bother to look outside, in fact I only glanced at the window for about 2 seconds before continuing to watch the TV.

But... What happens if it had been a real bomb? It might have been one of these small scale "dirty bombs" we keep hearing about, and I would have just sat there watching TV! These kids (and probably adults) could end up costing the lives of many people if they make us become too complacent.

It would be nice to see our council tax money in action and the police taking this issue more seriously.

It doesn't help that places like JTF at Catcliffe are selling professional display fireworks to any muppet who wants them.

I realise that JTF is a trade warehouse, but anyone can just about get in there, or borrow a card from a mate.

Why don't they just pass a law which should only allow shops to sell fireworks three days before Bonfire night or something?? That would make things easier!!! :thumbsup:

Originally posted by New Age
Why don't they just pass a law which should only allow shops to sell fireworks three days before Bonfire night or something?? That would make things easier!!! :thumbsup:

At one time that was what used to happen.

Nowadays ANYBODY can buy them nearly all year round, as long as they can prove that they're over 16.

It's cos of the Millennium and stuff apparently.

WTF?! Do they think we're mentally retarded or something?! Just cos they used a load of fireworks for Y2K, shouldn't declare open season on fireworks all year round...

Seriously the loudness of firework bangs the other night round us around 10.30 last Sunday night was ridiculous, especially when there's 2 young little 'uns next door but one to us who would be in bed at that late hour, honestly it was so lound it made me almost literally jump out of my skin.

That is just NOT necessary at that time of night :mad:

I'm starting to hear these big bangs at 2am on a regular basis. I think this is just not acceptable.

Originally posted by Lickszz
I'm starting to hear these big bangs at 2am on a regular basis. I think this is just not acceptable.

Yeah but when you report it to the Police they're like "oh yeah it's very bad is that, we'll 'ave a word in 't morning" but Sergeant Plod never does have words with the fireworkers does he?

Saturday night was very bad loads of very loud explosions around eight oclock here at longley had just put my three year old granddaughter to bed when all hell broke loose you can guess what a job i had trying to get her to sleep many thanks to all those cretins concerned.

Lets face it, they are going to be available all year round, just like with Xmas rubbish and even fruit. At one time there used to be 'seasons' where you would get a particular fruit but now you get a bland variety all year round.

Originally posted by alchresearch
Lets face it, they are going to be available all year round, just like with Xmas rubbish and even fruit. At one time there used to be 'seasons' where you would get a particular fruit but now you get a bland variety all year round.

True. Just like Cadbury's Creme eggs.

Originally posted by Lickszz
True. Just like Cadbury's Creme eggs.

Wow, yes! I remember a time when they were available for just a short period and it was such a treat to get them. Terry's Choc Oranges were the same - they only turned up at Christmas.

The point I was trying to make was more about the complacency than anything else. Next time there is a big bang - will you just assume it's yet another firework?

A "dirty bomb" might be too far fetched to worry about, but it might have been a gas explosion, either way will you bother to check? I'm starting to get lazy at checking as I assume it's a firework.

My suggestion is that everybody keeps a diary of times and level of explosions for a month and then writes to their respective MP including that information. There is a law before the Lords at the moment and there's a link to it from another thread (you'll have to search for it).

As far as the police go are they expected to track down echoes? If you check the other thread you will see that they are in fact investigating several avenues but as for the yob related explosions can anyone think of a way of tracking down the culprits? I'm sure the police would be intereeted.

last night, saw a huge one whizz past my window! I'm just off the park hill flats area, what if this hadn't missed the window n came through it? but what

Originally posted by max
As far as the police go are they expected to track down echoes? [..] as for the yob related explosions can anyone think of a way of tracking down the culprits? I'm sure the police would be intereeted. Looking at CCTV footage, asking people if they saw anyone, questioning firework suppliers, undercover operations... It's not really our position to tell the Police how to do their job. No-one said they should chase echos Max.

As you may have seen from reports in the local press (Star) in the last few days, yobs have been blowing up cars, pubs, post boxes, phone boxes and more.

If these individuals had a political agenda they would be classed as terrorists, and receive long prison sentences, however as they are just out of control youths intent only on destruction they are pretty much ignored by the police.

In the case reported of Myk Eccles' car being blown up, the police attitude was "It was just kids with high spirits, your insurance will cover it. By the way here is the bill for us towing the wreck away". However as this car was off the road being done up it was not insured, so he has lost several hundred pounds because of these scumbags.

Originally posted by Geoff
Looking at CCTV footage, asking people if they saw anyone, questioning firework suppliers, undercover operations... It's not really our position to tell the Police how to do their job. No-one said they should chase echos Max.
They've got more important things to do though. (God forbid) it'll take someone to get seriously hurt or killed by a firework before the police start to listen.

I'm no longer convinced that concentrating on the "big fish" is the best tactic - it seems that years of pumping resources away from minor crimes is finally catching up with us and resutling in a nationwide problem of "anti-sociable" behaviour (such as firework bombs.)

It's not much good posting this on an internet forum!! Write to the MP!! (dunno who it is round here) ;)

Ugh, Politicians won't do anything, the letter you send them would get binned, they're too busy bitching about Tony Blair's involvement in the decision making about Iraq, either that or slagging Ian Duncan Smith off about his stupidity of putting his missus on the books as his PA.

And they expect us to trust them with the running of the country?! They can't even run their own bleedin' affairs in a competent manner much less those of the Country.

I think what we all should do if you dont like the fireworks, me personally i cant stand the bloody things. There a menace. We should all meet, get as many people as we can and go outside JTF or the Chinese fireworks shop in Sheffield and pickett or do something. Get the local paper involved and make a stand. Remember the petrol dispute. I would like to here any ideas people have got.xx.:thumbsup: :D

Below is from the Sheffield Star today. It appears the culprit may have been caught!


Man facing legal threat over blasts

Mystery surrounding a series of noisy explosions which have echoed around Sheffield has finally been solved - and the alleged culprit may end up in court.

Council officials have finally tracked down what they believe is the location, in the Kelham Island area, and blame powerful display fireworks - a type not normally available to the public - for the blasts. They have also interviewed one person.
Sheffield Council launched its own investigation after being flooded with calls from the public demanding to know what was causing the explosions.
Environmental officer Dominic Stokes said: "The premises where the fireworks have been released and stored have been identified in the Kelham Island area.
"Officers from the council's Environmental Protection Service together with the police and the fire service have interviewed an individual in connection with them.
"These specific fireworks are particularly powerful and they are not the type that you would normally find on sale in the shops."

Originally posted by Rich
Ugh, Politicians won't do anything, the letter you send them would get binned, they're too busy bitching about Tony Blair's involvement in the decision making about Iraq, either that or slagging Ian Duncan Smith off about his stupidity of putting his missus on the books as his PA.

And they expect us to trust them with the running of the country?! They can't even run their own bleedin' affairs in a competent manner much less those of the Country.
Who is the local MP? Maybe we should get him to join the Forum.

Originally posted by Dug
Man facing legal threat over blasts

Mystery surrounding a series of noisy explosions which have echoed around Sheffield has finally been solved - and the alleged culprit may end up in court.

Council officials have finally tracked down what they believe is the location, in the Kelham Island area, and blame powerful display fireworks - a type not normally available to the public - for the blasts. They have also interviewed one person.

Sheffield Council launched its own investigation after being flooded with calls from the public demanding to know what was causing the explosions.

Environmental officer Dominic Stokes said: "The premises where the fireworks have been released and stored have been identified in the Kelham Island area.

"Officers from the council's Environmental Protection Service together with the police and the fire service have interviewed an individual in connection with them.

"These specific fireworks are particularly powerful and they are not the type that you would normally find on sale in the shops."
Was just about to mention this, it's on page 15 of today's Star (8 pages past "my" tram crash story (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3828) ;) )

What on earth was this person doing with these high explosive fireworks? I guess if it goes to court someone will be able to get the details?

I suppose we can hope that the clowns responsible blow their own heads off (but nobody else's). They'll probably survive though cos it seems there's no vital organs in that area. Then they'll be treated as poor victims and get disability handouts for the rest of their crappy lives.
Seriously though, if you saw one of these ignorant birt-bags blow him/herself up would you rush to help? I know I wouldn't. Not till I.ve finished what I'm doing anyway.

Hiya

A few people have mentioned contacting their MP but not being sure who it is.

There are several MPs who cover different areas of Sheffield - Richard Caborn, David Blunkett, Meg Munn and Richard Allan (who sometimes posts here).

If you want to find out who yours is and contact them, go to

this site (http://www.faxyourmp.com) and put in your postcode. It tells you who your MP is then gives you an opportunity to write them a letter which the site then faxes to them.

It's a great (and free!) way of contacting your MP. So get there now if you're bothered about the firework situation. Or indeed any situation!

Also there was a story in today's Star about firework explosives things being sold too. Link here (http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=677785)

And Clive Betts.

In my opinion the sale of fireworks to the general public should be banned. Only organised displays of fireworks should be allowed, with officials to light them. That way, fireworks would only be going off a few nights around bonfire night and New Years eve, instead of up to 2 months in advance of bonfire night and in the early hours in the morning. There should also be a 1am cut off point for official displays. This way, fireworks would not be so much of a problem. They are dangerous and the minority misuse them, ruining them for the majority. This is the only way to solve the problem in my view.

Before you give up hope entirely on politics it may help to know that we have passed a new law about fireworks this year which I was involved in. I was contacted by a lot of constituents (including my mother as a dog owner!) and spoke in one of the debates on the Bill.

The law has powers to restrict the types of fireworks sold, the times when they can be sold and used and so on. If the people selling fireworks don't get their act together then these powers will be used to control them.

This is a good example of how "people power" can still work quite effectively in this country. MPs only reacted because we had so many people contact us from all over the country.

It also another example of how we fail to communicate what we are doing in Parliament to people outside. Normal people talk about fireworks a lot and it is in the local press. In Parliament we talk about them as well but in another language and following obscure procedures that make it hard for people to see we are actually doing something.

For the detail of the law check out this link - http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030022.htm
and the explanatory notes which can be found at - http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/en/2003en22.htm

If you look at the text of these you may understand some of the communications problems that I think we have. Putting politics on the internet does not help much if it is still in this arcane language that only politicians use.

Nice one Richard. I posted a link earlier but it didn't include the explanatory notes.

The only problem with framing laws in a manner which could be understood by the public would be that we wouldn't need so many lawyers to interpret them. :D

Originally posted by richardallan
In Parliament we talk about them as well but in another language...
"BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows..."
You're not kidding! :lol:
Maybe Parliament needs a visit from these guys (http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/)

edit - actually it seems they are already on your case (http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/issue51.html)

Even if fireworks are made illegal, I still think yobs would manage to get their hands on them. Nevermind though, we could send them on a holiday to teach them a lesson. That should do the trick...

Mmmm

t020

I remember in the dark ages (Thatcher era England), I had friends that worked with 'Bad Lads' who they took on 'holiday'......still doesn't work....or does it? Does anyone have any better ideas? and don't say National Service!

andyb

I've been hearing these bangs for the past week around the eccy road area, while some of them may be fireworks some of them definatley are not.
They seem to be very similar to Maroons I see down in Devon to call the lifeboat out, ie. they go up in the air, explode making a loud noise then all that's left is some smoke. The noise is too loud to be over the counter fireworks and they aren't display fireworks as there is no bits coming out them as you would expect, ie. they just make a small flash. As to why they would use them in Sheffield i don't have a clue.

Just thought I would let you know the new firework prank that is happening. Someone (could be kids, not sure) put a firework in our neighbours car last night. The rear windscreen was completley blown out as was the majority of windows. There is glass everwhere and everyone is a bit shaken up. Not nice, big or clever! She had only five minutes earlier arrived home with her kids. Scarey

Originally posted by andyb
Mmmm

t020

I remember in the dark ages (Thatcher era England), I had friends that worked with 'Bad Lads' who they took on 'holiday'......still doesn't work....or does it? Does anyone have any better ideas? and don't say National Service!

andyb

Work camps?

And all this to celebrate the demise of someone who FAILED to blow up the Houses of Parliament

Originally posted by Sidla
Who is the local MP? Maybe we should get him to join the Forum.

Dunno who the Stannington MP is, but the Hillsborough MP is Mrs Helen Jackson, for Labour.

Originally posted by Rich
Dunno who the Stannington MP is, but the Hillsborough MP is Mrs Helen Jackson, for Labour.
Stannington is in Hillsborough constituency and Helen Jackson is well aware of the issues regarding fireworks and she has supported the legislation mentioned in previous posts.

People who deliberately set off fireworks repeatedly before the 5th November are IMO show offs and irresponsible, inconsiderate morons.

This is the scenario which does lead me to feel sorry for pets and others. Mainly because it is out of the blue and cannot be catered for.

I would like to see any celebrations confined to Nov 5th until a reasonable hour. Obviously, how to police things though is a nightmare.

On the other hand, if it is made an offence to do it outside the 5th and at a reasonable hour, there is at the very least, a chance of being prosecuted.