December 03, 2025 | Incident and Crime Statistics , Crime Statistics
Request Number: FOI/16244
Category: Incident and Crime Statistics – Crime Statistics
Subject: Firework licensing enforcement
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold information to which your request relates. The decision has been taken to disclose the following.
Question 1
Enforcement statistics: How many individuals have been charged with the illegal possession or use of fireworks in the past three years?
Answer 1
In the three calendar years 2022 to 2024 there have been 56 occasions where a person has been arrested and subsequently charged for at least one offence relating to the illegal possession or use of fireworks. There have been 16 such occasions between January and October 2025.
The offence codes identified through charge records and included in this response cover the following offences:
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THROWING FIREWORK
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POSSESSION OF FIREWORKS WITHOUT A LICENCE / POSSESSING FIREWORKS WITHOUT A LICENCE
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POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED FIREWORKS / POSSESSION OF A PROHIBITED FIREWORK
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USING A PROHIBITED FIREWORK
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USING FIREWORKS WITHOUT A LICENCE
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POSSESSION OF A BANGER FIREWORK
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POSSESSION OF FIREWORKS, FLARES, ETC AT A REGULATED MATCH (OFFENCES AFTER 1.8.11)
Question 2
Licensing and sales monitoring: How are licensed retailers currently monitored? Are they required to maintain records of each transaction, and if so, how are these records reviewed or audited? Are unannounced inspections carried out to ensure that the stock held matches the terms of their licence?
Answer 2
Police conduct engagement with local retailers and check the following information:
- Their certificate of registration is in a prominent position at the point of sale
- A notice regarding age restrictions is displayed
- That a permanent record of each sell is recorded and kept for 2 years
- The buyer has a valid licence
Advice is given regards this if found to be in contravention which is not the case as we engage regularly (yearly) basis and have found that they are compliant with requirements. Records are viewed upon request on the day police attend unannounced. We do not have the capacity to check stock.
We conduct test purchases in accordance with policy to subject the seller to this test if found to be in contravention of the law the seller is dealt with appropriately depending on the level of offending.
Regulation 7 of The Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 applies to the requirement to maintain records:-
7.—(1) The purchaser of fireworks acting under a licence issued under regulation 4(1) shall produce his licence to the seller at the time of purchase and the seller, where such licence is not so produced, shall be prohibited from selling such fireworks.
(2) The seller of fireworks subject to licence shall keep a permanent record of all sales of such fireworks. He shall record the name and address of every person to whom he sells such fireworks together with the date of each such sale and particulars of the quantity and type of the fireworks sold and the licence number.
(3) The record shall be retained for at least two years.
Regulation 7 (4) of The Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 applies to the reviewing/auditing of records and inspections :-
(4) The record shall on demand be immediately produced for inspection by a Government Inspector, Constable or representative of an enforcing authority on production of his warrant.
Question 3
Licensing distribution: It is noteworthy that of the 13 licensed sellers in County Down, 12 are located in the Newry area—within approximately five miles of the border. One premises appears to be situated directly adjacent to the border. Is there a record of the source of the fireworks these retailers sell, and confirmation that they are fully compliant with Northern Ireland’s legislative requirements?
Answer 3
PSNI can advise that this would not fall into the remit of uniform neighbourhood officers. The Department of Justice is the competent authority in explosives matters and has responsibility for market surveillance in Northern Ireland.
We can further advise that in regards to the premises in question closest to the border: a plain clothes test purchase operation was conducted on the 16th October 2025 unannounced and found to be fully compliant.