Photo: Watch Manager Ian Mullen of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.
A team at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MF&RS) is carrying out inspections at shops to ensure they are storing and selling fireworks safely and legally.
Fireworks can only be sold by retailers with a license from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority between October 15 and November 11 this year.
The group of Fire Safety Technical Officers from the team are currently visiting shops across Merseyside.
Officers are supporting local businesses to ensure they store and sell fireworks safely. They are also carrying out inspections to find those who are selling fireworks illegally and are putting people in danger through the unsafe storage of fireworks.
MF&RS officers have been working closely with Merseyside Police since 2006 and during that time have seized a number of fireworks stored without a licence along with illegal fireworks.
Poor storage of fireworks and the illegal sale of fireworks can lead to prosecution, resulting in imprisonment or large fines.
MF&RS officers working with police officers have helped convict people for selling fireworks illegally and for poor storage of fireworks.
Watch Manager Ian Mullen, who is leading on the bonfire strategy for Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service this year, said: “Illegal fireworks can be dangerous and unpredictable. Those who sell illegal fireworks, especially to young people, could be responsible for leaving them with serious injuries as a result of firework misuse.
“It is illegal to sell fireworks out of a van or from a house and we would urge members of the public not to buy such fireworks. It is also illegal to throw fireworks in the street.
“However, we do support businesses who ensure they store fireworks safely and those who sell them responsibly. Our Fire Safety Technical Officers have a lot of experience of working with businesses and shops in Merseyside to highlight fire safety laws, improve fire safety and reduce the risk of fire.”
Sellers must have a licence from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority to store fireworks for sale between the legal selling dates, and if they are sold outside of normal periods a further license to sell is required.
It is also illegal to sell bangers and any retailer caught selling bangers may face six months imprisonment and a fine of up to £5,000.
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