National Campaign for Firework Safety
Our aim is to promote the safe use of  fireworks
Press Release for October 1 2002
For the attention of the News Editor
Notice of Release of two important Firework Surveys, carried out be The National Campaign for Firework Safety.

The Surveys will be released, by Mr Noel Tobin, Director of the National Campaign for Firework Safety, on Monday 14th October 2002.

The first survey is called 'Noisy Fireworks' and is a survey of fireworks available on the internet, and the manner in which they are sold in the UK. This survey comes in two editions. Edition 1 contains all the information the researcher gathered, and is available only by writing to Mr Noel Tobin. Edition 2, is censored, and will be freely available.

The second survey is called 'Fireworks Survey 2001'. It is a record of firework abuse throughout 2001. This shows that fireworks are abused the full twelve months of the year.
Here are the introductions of both surveys.

Noisy Fireworks Survey
SURVEY OF FIREWORK SUPPLIERS ON THE INTERNET SELLING OVER
361 FIREWORK PRODUCTS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
The National Campaign for Firework Safety have produced a major survey of firework suppliers selling a huge range of fireworks on the Internet. Of the 90 companies who now sell fireworks, many have never handled explosives before.

This is the most important survey that has been carried out for 20 years since we looked at the International Firework situation. Everyone reading this survey will be shocked by the hundreds of fireworks available through the Internet.

In 1997, the Government banned a number of fireworks, including some in the highest category in BS7114, category 4. Among the firework banned in 1997 were, Aerial Shells and Maroons, Maroons in Shells, Maroons in Mortar, Bangers in all categories, & Mini Rockets and fireworks of erratic flight.

However, the Government allowed the firework industry to drive a coach and horses through their own regulations, by asking for dispensations from prohibitions. As a result, all the fireworks banned in 1997, were available in large qualities in 2001, and are still available, even down to the category 2 Banger, (750,000 found in a warehouse in one area alone) The Police and Trading Standards have said continually for 30 years that firework laws, as they now stand, are unenforceable.

Fireworks are now heard all of the year. Shops, who go against the industry's voluntary agreement, which is to sell fireworks three weeks before November 5 and a few days after, and a similar time for New Year's Eve, now sell to anyone, anytime. Last year the DTI admitted most firework problems were caused because of the retail sales of fireworks. The Minister for Consumer Affairs said she had received representations from over 337 MPs calling for new legislation on fireworks.

More and more of our members have voiced their concern over the 'loudness' of fireworks. Many of the readers letters in the newspapers, regarding fireworks, have said much the same, 'why do they have to be so loud'. It was this that caused me to ask for the survey to be carried out. In my contacts with the firework industry when the subject of noisy fireworks came up, I was told it was only a handful of fireworks involved.

The National Campaign for Firework Safety, was set up in 1969 to deal with all problems relating to fireworks. Injuries and fatalities not only to young children and teenagers, but to animals as well. Tens of thousands of injured children are now disabled adults. Not a penny in compensation has ever been paid to the people who have always been told by all Governments, it was okay to handle fireworks provided they followed the "firework code".
This is one of the most neglected subjects because of the "British Tradition" aspects of the problem. The Government is now looking at "what can be done" but their approach is not radical enough.
NOEL TOBIN - DIRECTOR NCFS
October 2002