Issued By Cumbria County Council

SALE OF FIREWORKS TO UNDER 18’S

Cumbria Trading Standard’s continued campaign against retailers who are suspected of selling fireworks to under 18’s is paying dividends.  Last week 23 visits were made to firework retailers throughout Cumbria.  Youngsters who were accompanied by Trading Standards Officers attempted to buy rockets and air bombs at the shops visited, all the shopkeepers refused to sell to the youngsters.

Cumbria County Councillor, Jack Richardson, Community Safety Spokesperson said, “This is a good news story and I congratulate the shopkeepers for acting responsibly.  We must protect our children from injury and do all we can to cut out misuse of fireworks in the streets”.

Phil Ashcroft, Assistant Director (Trading Standards) said “All the shops visited were contacted by Trading Standards prior to the checks and reminded of the law on firework sales to under 18’s.  We will continue this exercise up until November 5^th.  I hope we get the same results.  Shopkeepers must remain vigilant and if in doubt, ask for ID or refuse the sale”.

Notes to Editors

1.      Maximum penalty for selling to under 18’s is £5000 fine/6 months imprisonment

2.      We have approximately 150 firework retailers in the county.

3.      This is the third year in which we have run a test-purchasing campaign for fireworks, and the first time that no sales have been made.

4.    For more information on this Press Release, contact John Greenbank (01900 325982), Patrick Thomas

        (01539 773591) or Phil Ashcroft (01539 773586)