Dedicated police patrols considered to stop nuisance fireworks in Bradford
With Bonfire Night on the horizon, Bradford Council will discuss the issue of fireworks misuse at a meeting on Tuesday.
COUNCILLORS will call for dedicated police patrols to try to stop nuisance fireworks use in Bradford and raise concern about the “lack of visible action” in dealing with the issue.
With Bonfire Night on the horizon, Bradford Council will discuss the issue of fireworks misuse in the district at a meeting on Tuesday.
At the full Council meeting two motions will be put forward, each suggesting different ways to tackle an issue that causes “significant harm and distress” to many residents of the District.
A motion by the Bradford Independent Group claims “the repeated failure to address fireworks-related anti-social behaviour undermines trust in local authorities and policing.”
The issue of fireworks being set off late at night is one that has plagued Bradford for years, and is heightened around Bonfire Night and the Summer wedding season.
Bradford Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee carried out a cross-party review into the issue in 2021, but that review found that without national changes to laws around fireworks, tackling the issue locally would be an “impossible task.”
A motion by Councillor Taj Salam of the Bradford Independent Group says late night firework use is “linked with wider patterns of anti-social behaviour and nuisance gatherings, and erodes public confidence in community safety.”
His motion says: “Despite repeated complaints from residents, enforcement and preventative action from West Yorkshire Police and Trading Standards has been inconsistent and insufficient.
“That current legislation already provides powers under the Fireworks Regulations 2004, the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, and other relevant frameworks, but that enforcement in Bradford remains weak.
“Bradford Council itself has powers available locally, including byelaws, Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), and nuisance enforcement, which could be better utilised.
“Residents have a right to feel safe and undisturbed in their homes, especially during unsociable hours.
“Repeated failure to address fireworks-related anti-social behaviour undermines trust in local authorities and policing.
“Bradford Council must show leadership by using all local powers at its disposal, alongside pressing West Yorkshire Police and Government for stronger action.”
The motion calls for the Council to “Explore the introduction of a local byelaw to restrict the setting off of fireworks in residential areas and public spaces between the hours of 11pm and 7am (except on recognised festival dates), consult on the creation of targeted Public Spaces Protection Orders to prohibit the use of fireworks in hotspot areas where anti-social behaviour is prevalent, and use statutory nuisance powers where fireworks cause serious and repeated noise disturbance to residents.”
It asks the Council to work with West Yorkshire Police to West Yorkshire Police to introduce “targeted patrols during peak periods of nuisance.”
Data on enforcement action should be published, and there should be a “public awareness campaign with schools, youth services, and community organisations to highlight the dangers and consequences of fireworks misuse.”
Another motion has been put forward by Kamran Hussain, Labour Executive for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, calling for tougher national laws to deal with fireworks.
The Labour motion says: “Councillors and residents are angered by the antisocial use of fireworks at all hours of day and night.
“The decent majority of people across all wards of our district treat each other with mutual respect. It is a small number of people whose selfish and antisocial actions are causing significant harm and distress to their neighbours, injuries, and excessive pressures on emergency services.
The council has, for several years, been campaigning for tougher laws on the use of fireworks, something which can only be made possible by changes to national legislation.
“The council has told all wedding venues across the district to take fireworks out of wedding festivities and raise awareness of the distressing impact fireworks have on residents, including the young and old, those with disabilities and pets.
“Council wardens also visit properties where there are signs of a wedding taking place. They speak to householders and advise them about the impact fireworks has on the community, their legal responsibilities and the distressing effect of fireworks on others.”
It calls for the Council to “Call for tougher national laws on the sale and antisocial use of fireworks, including:
o an outright ban on the private use of fireworks except on specific dates in the year as outlined above, with only organised licensed events allowed on other days
o a much more restrictive licensing regime backed up by additional funding for local authorities, police, trading standards and fire services to enforce it
o an outright ban on Category 3 fireworks
o a reduction in the maximum allowed decibel level.”
The meeting starts at City Hall at 4pm and is expected to run until around 10pm.