Stephen Morgan MP has welcomed the announcement that Portsmouth people will have the opportunity to shape the future of enforcement against antisocial firework use by contributing to the Government’s new “Fireworks and Pyrotechnics in the UK” consultation.
This consultation, which marks the largest review of fireworks legislation since it was first introduced, will run for 12 weeks and gather feedback directly from people across the UK about the change that they want to see.
Through this review, families, children and their pets in Portsmouth will be able to go about their day with less disturbance, whilst still ensuring residents can enjoy fireworks safely and as part of the community and cultural celebrations they play a part in.
This review will ask respondents to comment on:
- Restricting the availability of the noisiest fireworks, with louder products only being available to professional displays,
- Increasing the number of products that are banned due to unacceptable risk to communities, under Regulation 33 of the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015
- Reviewing the wider regulatory framework for fireworks classified as ‘lower risk’, to ensure that the law accurately reflects the different levels of risk that they pose.
Since coming into office as the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Mr Morgan has repeatedly heard from local people about the negative impacts of anti-social fireworks use in the city.
That is why Mr Morgan is calling on local people to contribute to the Government’s consultation here.
This follows wider steps taken by Mr Morgan to tackle anti-social behaviour in Portsmouth as a whole, including hearing experiences and suggestions from local people, collaborating with shopowners and small businesses to prevent shoplifting, meeting with senior police and accompanying neighbourhood team patrols to raise issues and occurrences, and supporting Government measures to strengthen the local policing’s ability to tackle ASB.
Examples of these measures taken by the Government to strengthen Portsmouth’s local police force include:
- Providing an additional £20.5 Million in funding for 2025/26
- Allocating 65 extra dedicated neighbourhood police officers
- Establishing new powers and offences through the Crime and Policing Bill
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“Through their new consultation, this Government is allowing people in our city to shape the future of fireworks enforcement and ensure that Labour’s approach to this issue is informed by local voices
“Anti-social firework use has become a nightmare for people in Portsmouth across recent years, with disruptive individuals setting off extremely loud fireworks all hours of the day and night.
“Fireworks used properly are great fun, and Labour wants the organised and licensed public displays which have previously brought communities together to continue.
“That is why we are now consulting on the sale of fireworks to take them out of the hands of those who use them irresponsibly. This will crack down on anti-social behaviour and protect Portsmouth’s pets.”
