Bradford Council releases Bonfire Night safety message video

Article dated Wednesday Nov 1, 2023 at 01:48 PM

Bradford Council is urging people to ‘be considerate to your neighbours’ in the run-up to Bonfire Night.

Councillor Abdul Jabar, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety has put out a strong message in a special video, saying people should “have fun but think about others”.

He goes on to say: “I think sometimes people don’t realise the impact it (fireworks) has on the whole community, including the elderly people who are ill. You’ve got families, you’ve got children who go to school in the mornings who are unable to go to school because of fireworks being let off.”

The council, as part of Bradford Community Safety Partnership is gearing up for bonfire night and trying to clamp down on illegal and anti-social use of fireworks.

The video, just released on YouTube, features speakers from the council, members of the public, Khadim Hussain, president of Jamiyat Tabligh-Ul-Islam and Matt Henderson of Ravenscliffe Community Association.

Youth Worker Mohammed Azeem talks about the work being done by the council’s Youth Service to educate young people about the dangers and nuisance of fireworks and outreach work that the service does with partners, such as mosques to raise awareness.

The council has, for several years, been working to get tougher laws on the use of fireworks in the district, something which could only be made possible by changes to national legislation. The authority continues to lobby the Government to make changes which would including reducing the noise levels of all categories of fireworks, stopping the sale of more powerful fireworks and licensing for individuals who sell fireworks.

The sale of fireworks to the public has been prohibited, since 2005, except for licensed traders. However, fireworks can be sold by unlicensed traders for Chinese New Year and the preceding three days, (this celebration does not have a fixed date); Diwali and the preceding three days, (this celebration does not have a fixed date); Bonfire Night Celebrations, (15 October to 10 November);New Year celebrations (26 to 31 December).

The law states you must be over 18 to purchase, possess or use  fireworks in the UK. They can only be purchased from a licensed vendor. If you buy fireworks for personal use, you are only allowed to use them on your private property or property where you have the consent of the landowner. It is a criminal offence to set off fireworks in the street or other public place without permission.

About Bradford Community Safety Partnership

The Community Safety Partnership is a multi-agency partnership which works to make the district safer by tackling crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and drug and alcohol misuse. Members include Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Police, National Probation Service, Public Health, Bradford and Airedale NHS, the Fire & Rescue Service, Crown Prosecution Service, Incommunities, the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner.

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