Salford pyro-technician describes children’s use of fireworks as “terrifying”

The owner of Atom Fireworks and pyro-technician Jason Graham has spoken of the danger of children getting hold of fireworks in the Salford area.

As a resident of Salford, Mr Graham spoke of his experience of firework inspired anti-social behaviour in the area, saying: “Someone has thrown fireworks on a bus and it’s terrifying.”

Following the decision by Sainsbury’s to halt the sale of fireworks nationwide, Graham said: “Most of the time they get in the wrong hands through illegal means.”

Firework Restrictions 

A recent consultation in Scotland over the sale of fireworks to the public found that there was support for tougher controls on the selling and use of the products.

Of the 16,000 people who responded:

94%

wanted tighter controls on the sale of fireworks

87%

supported an outright ban on the sale of fireworks

Last year, a petition to ban the public sale of fireworks to protect animals, children and people with a phobia attracted more than 300,000 signatures.

Information retrieved from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50094658

Sainsbury's has become the first major supermarket to stop selling fireworks at its 2,300 stores across the UK

The halt from Sainsbury’s comes after years of petitions trying to restrict the sale of fireworks to the public from those against fireworks. These argue that fireworks can often scare pets and wildlife.

Hey Sally, thanks! We won't be selling fireworks in any of our stores this year. Hope this helps! Daniel

— Sainsbury's (@sainsburys) October 15, 2019

“Restricting the sale of fireworks to the millions of people in the UK, because of what is a very small minority of idiots, it’s not the right way.”

An elderly Salford resident said: “For me personally it’s a bit inconvenient because that’s where I get my fireworks.

“It won’t make any difference because someone will be selling them somewhere. I think they should be more strict on the license of selling fireworks.”

It is believed that other retailers will soon join Sainsbury’s in their restrictions of fireworks.