KEY POINTS:
The sale of fireworks will be banned altogether by the Government if tighter controls have little effect on stemming stupid and dangerous acts around Guy Fawkes Night.
"If there's a lot of continued silly behaviour, we'll have to move further, and it seems to me the only step
beyond where we are now is a ban," Environment Minister David Benson-Pope said..
The Government announced tighter restrictions on fireworks sales last week, after calls for an outright ban from the Fire Service and the SPCA.
From next year, fireworks sales will be restricted to people aged 18 and over, and they will only be sold over three days from November 3.
Previously, children as young as 14 were allowed to buy fireworks over a 10-day period starting October 27.
Despite warnings and safety campaigns, nearly 800 fires were recorded over Guy Fawkes weekend this year, and 1729 fires over the 10-day sale period. The number of fires over the 10-day period has increased every year for the past five years.
But the Government stopped short of a total ban, acknowledging the popularity of displays and the sensible approach that most people take.
"Most rules and laws are made because of the bad behaviour of the few, rather than the good behaviour of the majority," Mr Benson-Pope said.
One reported negative incident, he said, was a group of teenagers launching fireworks into service stations while people were filling up their cars.
"You don't need much imagination to see the mayhem and risk of a mob of kids with fireworks blasting a service station."
SPCA chief executive Bob Kerridge has heard similar horror stories.
"The worst case we had was a dog frightened by fireworks. It escaped down to the beach, where a bunch of yahoos were letting off fireworks, and they started to throw them at the dog.
"It ran into the water, drowned, and when the body was found, it was covered in fireworks burns."
Mr Kerridge said the Government's approach to the problem was "wussy", adding: "The public will still get fireworks and problems will continue. Underage people will still get their hands on them, and it won't stop people over 18 from being stupid.
"We need to keep them out of the hands of the public altogether."
The Fire Service welcomed the tighter controls, but echoed the SPCA in saying it remained to be seen if they would make a difference.
Police have also followed the Fire Service in saying Guy Fawkes is a nightmare period that stretches resources. But they have not called for a total ban.
Mr Benson-Pope defended the new rules as "not just a slap with a wet bus ticket".
"The shortened sale period and tighter purchase controls has got to have an effect on the volume sold.
"We've struck a balance that won't interfere with sensible behaviour and I'm hopeful it will reduce bad behaviour," he said.
"There were very strong submissions from the Fire Service, meetings with police and a very substantial flow of correspondence supporting very severe restrictions or a total ban.
"I personally don't want to see a ban, but we were at a point where we had to respond to what was quite dangerous behaviour."
