The government is currently running a consultation seeking views on the regulation of pyrotechnics and fireworks in the UK, looking to tighten regulations on the sale of certain items – but not banning their sale.
Industry figures suggest around 20 million people take part in fireworks activities at home each year. Despite the obvious enjoyment fireworks bring for many, for celebrations and cultural events, their use has become a growing concern, as seen from public complaints, and parliamentary debates. There have been several widely supported petitions calling for stronger controls, due to the negative impacts on neighbourhood safety, vulnerable people, and animals.
Recent misuse of fireworks, allegedly leading to moorland fires, must also be on the minds of many.
Research from the Home Office in 2022 found more than 3000 fires over the last 12 years had been caused by fireworks. Disruptive, anti-social and criminal misuse is seen around Halloween and Bonfire Night, and increasingly throughout the year. In some areas, those working in the police and fire service have faced attacks by assailants armed with fireworks, and recent polling undertaken by OPSS in both 2021 and 2025 shows that public feeling towards fireworks is strengthening.
While the polling showed that fireworks, and in particular public display fireworks, remain consistently popular, the negative impacts from fireworks, such as public nuisance vandalism, and causing harm, are becoming more widespread.
Incidents such as fire crews being attacked with fireworks last year, and Bradford residents demanding an end to ‘anti-social’ fireworks have heightened growing concern, as have calls for tighter restrictions, from, for example, Luton residents describing “anger and resentment”over nuisance fireworks.
No Ban on Firework Sale Planned
The consultation explores these issues, in support of the UK Government’s Safer Streets Mission launched under Keir Starmer’s premiership to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The goal is to find an approach that preserves the enjoyment of fireworks for celebrations while preventing harm and distress to others.
The government doesn’t consider banning the public from buying or using fireworks to be a proportionate response to the current situation. Instead, they are proposing to reassess the risk level of certain pyrotechnic products, which could lead to more restricted access to some products.
Consultation Seeks Wide Range of Views
While welcoming individual responses, the Office for Product Safety and Standards has cast a wide net for responses. It particularly wants to hear from individuals, businesses and organisations that interact with all aspects of fireworks, and is particularly keen to hear from consumers and consumer organisations, including those who work with vulnerable individuals or under-represented groups; accident prevention, public safety and security, and antisocial behaviour prevention organisations, including police, ambulance, security and fire and rescue services; veterans’ organisations and businesses who sell or import fireworks; and other organisations, such as animal charities and animal welfare organisations.
Before making any changes to fireworks regulations, the Government are seeking views on their proposals to ensure they receive all relevant evidence and perspectives.
“This will allow us to refine the policy to reduce unintended consequences and maximise the potential benefits,” they say.
In particular, they are seeking views on proposals to restrict the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public, with louder products only available to professional users; add products deemed to be carrying unacceptable risks to the list of existing banned pyrotechnic products; and review the regulations for fireworks and pyrotechnic products currently classified as lower risk to better reflect the different levels of risk they pose.
• The documents and open consultation on Fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK, and options to respond by 7th October 2026 to respond are here
When responding, please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation