The UK Labour Government has opened a 12-week consultation on fireworks following what has been described locally as a wave of anti-social behaviour in West Dunbartonshire, where residents, businesses and emergency services were targeted by thrown fireworks last year.
Local anger drives national review
The review comes after a series of incidents — including attacks in Dalmuir — prompted widespread complaints from the community. Douglas McAllister, the MP for West Dunbartonshire, said the consultation was a direct response to calls for stronger action to tackle what he called “utterly mindless violence and disorder”.
“There is absolutely no excuse for the utterly mindless violence and disorder seen in Dalmuir and across West Dunbartonshire on Bonfire Night last year, as well as in years previous,”
Mr McAllister told constituents he had been “inundated by complaints” from residents and welcomed the Government’s willingness to listen. He highlighted the distress such incidents cause to vulnerable groups, including how pets are traumatised in the days around Bonfire Night.
What the consultation will consider
Officials are seeking views on how fireworks are bought, sold and used. Proposed areas for feedback that have been set out include:
- Restricting the loudest fireworks to professional displays only
- Increasing the number of products banned under existing safety rules
- Reviewing laws on lower-risk fireworks to ensure they reflect real-world dangers
The measures form part of a wider effort by ministers to tackle anti-social behaviour and improve community safety.
| Proposed change | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Limit loudest fireworks to professionals | Reduce night-time disturbance and risk from high-noise devices |
| Ban more products | Close loopholes and remove unsafe or particularly disruptive items |
| Review lower-risk categories | Ensure regulations match actual hazards experienced by communities |
How residents can respond
The consultation will run for three months and invites submissions from local people about the changes they want to see. Local campaigners and community groups who have been affected by recent incidents are being urged to take part so their experiences are recorded as part of the review.
Kate Dearden, MP and minister for consumer protection, has also spoken about the consultation and the government’s intention to address disruptive use of fireworks by individuals across communities.
For residents of West Dunbartonshire this review offers a formal route to feed into policy decisions that could restrict certain products or modes of sale and alter the balance between private and professional displays. Local authorities, emergency services and animal welfare groups will be among those watching the consultation closely as proposals are developed.
As the review progresses, attention will turn to whether new measures are enforceable in practice and how they will be policed locally. For now, the consultation provides a mechanism for those most affected to place their concerns on the record and press for change.
What you can do now: if you were impacted by firework-related anti-social behaviour in West Dunbartonshire, consider responding to the consultation within the 12-week window to ensure local experience informs any regulatory change.
