Politics Home | Government Looks At Bringing In Tougher Laws To Restrict Fireworks Sales

An MPs’ debate on the sale of fireworks was held in Westminster Hall in January (Alamy)

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PoliticsHome understands that it will look at whether to update the list of banned fireworks, review the requirements for the broad category of lower-risk fireworks to ensure they are proportionate to the risks they pose, and reduce the noise limit for consumer fireworks.

The consultation, which is part of the Labour government’s ‘Safer Streets’ policy, is expected to seek input on how the British public can balance the enjoyment of fireworks with reducing harm and distress to vulnerable people and animals.

Some types of pyrotechnics have also been linked to anti-social behaviour, which has been subject to increasing concern from MPs in recent years.

In December, two petitions – one calling for reducing the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels, and the other in support of limiting the sale of fireworks to those running local council-approved events only – reached more than 376,000 signatures taken together.

Both petitions were debated by MPs in January, in which business and trade minister Kate Dearden said she would be “working at pace” in the department on “building the evidence base” and “speaking to as many people as possible”.

A survey by the Social Market Foundation think tank in 2024 found that only 15 per cent of the public were satisfied with the existing regulatory framework for the use of traditional fireworks, while 91 per cent of respondents were open to partial replacement of traditional fireworks with ‘alternative’ displays like lasers, drones, or silent fireworks.

Labour MP for Luton North, Sarah Owen, introduced a Private Members’ Bill in 2024 to ban the sale of the loudest fireworks to the public and ensure fireworks can only be purchased from licensed shops. 

Although the bill did not pass, it received cross-party support, and she has continued to campaign for tougher laws on firework sales.

Responding to the government consultation, Owen told PoliticsHome: “This is a huge step forward for the thousands of people and many brilliant charities who have campaigned for a change in the noise limits on fireworks. 

“From veterans to pet owners to parents to children with SEND and older people, we know the havoc nuisance fireworks cause. In towns and cities, this anti-social behaviour isn’t limited to festive periods any more, but all year round and round the clock. It erodes trust both within neighbourhoods and their local authorities. This is therefore very welcome news from the government. 

“It is so welcome that finally a government has been brave enough to take note and now people have a chance to really be heard in this consultation.”

Conservative MP Simon Hoare, who supported Owen’s latest bill on the issue, said: “This is great and welcome news. The days around 5 November have, for too many communities, become a nightmare, particularly for pet and livestock owners.

“Anything that can be done to improve the situation has my unqualified support “

The consultation will seek public and business views on the impact of fireworks and the potential consequences of tighter regulations, with some industry opposition expected.

In a letter responding to a previous Westminster Hall debate in January 2025, representations of the British Fireworks Association (BFA) described fireworks as a “cherished British tradition” that millions of people use to “celebrate responsibly and considerately”.

“Further restrictions would unfairly penalise this law-abiding majority for the actions of a criminal minority,” it said.

The group argued that reducing the noise limit for fireworks from 120dB to 90dB – roughly equivalent to the sound of a lawnmower – would “remove almost all legal products from the market, effectively ending the trade by stealth”.

The BFA has also argued that tougher restrictions would lead to the development of a black market in fireworks that would make it more difficult for the police to monitor and would introduce more dangerous, non-compliant explosives into communities.

Additional reporting by Adam Payne