Green councillors in Newham are calling for tougher rules for buying, selling and setting off fireworks after more than 200 teenagers gathered in the borough last year and launched them at groups of people including a woman with a baby. Leader of Newham's Green party, Danny Keeling, wants suppliers in the borough to stock quieter fireworks that are less than 90dB for all public displays and for there to be a campaign similar to 'Rocket O'Clock', where residents having private displays set them off within a specific hour.
Cllr Keeling also wants there to be a ban on extending licences to sell fireworks. Fireworks can be only be sold during the days around Bonfire Night, New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. However retailers who want to sell fireworks outside the restricted dates can currently apply for a licence with Newham Council so they can sell them every day of the year at a cost of £500.
Cllr Keeling's ward is Stratford Olympic Park which is where hundreds of young people gathered on the evening of October 31, 2022 and met up for "firework wars". A video that was posted on social media at the time showed a woman with a baby in a pram who appeared to be hit near Stratford station. The chaotic night resulted in a teenage girl being arrested after a firework was launched towards police officers.
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At the time of last year's events, Cllr Keeling wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "This is entirely unacceptable behaviour, this is a risk to life and a fire risk to homes." Cllr Keeling hopes to present their argument as a motion during tonight's full council meeting (October 16), which has been backed by fellow Green councillor, Nate Higgins.
Cllr Keeling told the LDRS: "If we're going to keep seeing these major acts of antisocial behaviour where people like to have large gatherings and start shooting fireworks off in public places, then we need to take some kind of action. We need to be the force of good so we don't see as many fires, promote public safety and support people with Post Traumatic Street Disorder [PTSD] as well as parents with new children so they aren't kept up during the night."
Cllr Keeling also wants central government to consider a ban on fireworks for general sale to the public. They are likely to say in the motion: "There are two resolutions set out here, one is of the original motion and the other the amendment. The original would limit the borough's licensing laws ensuring we do not give out the extended licences to sell fireworks - but I understand we all have different politics alignments and opinions.
"So I give the Labour group and the independent another option, with the amendment which would be an opportunity to extend this further - by urging the government to consult on a ban on fireworks for general sale to the public. Nobody should have their own safety compromised by others. Risks to life, animals and private and public property is entirely unacceptable and we can ensure our residents safety today."
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