A resident of Harrow has described this year as the “worst” he’s experienced concerning the unsafe and anti-social use of fireworks.
Brandon To, a member of the Roxborough Residents’ Association Committee, recounted witnessing a firecracker being hurled from a vehicle towards oncoming traffic, and a man “parading a box of fireworks on his head while igniting them” just outside the windows of local residents.
His concerns arise following Harrow Council’s initiative to address the “irresponsible and anti-social usage of fireworks” in public areas, aimed at avoiding a repeat of last year’s troubling incidents that upset numerous residents, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The council has pledged to deploy “enforcement teams in significant numbers” daily from 6 PM to 10 PM over a period of three weeks starting on October 17. Their mission is to educate both businesses and residents on the proper handling of fireworks.
Officials emphasized that punitive measures would be taken against those who believe they are above the law, with potential fines reaching £100, and a dedicated hotline established for communities to report problems.
Pritesh Patel, Harrow’s cabinet member responsible for cleaner streets and public safety, remarked that while fireworks “can offer enjoyment, they are not suited for everyone.”
He noted, “Last year we witnessed fireworks being discharged dangerously in our neighborhoods, which is utterly irresponsible and cannot be tolerated.”
Mr. To informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service about a near-accident on October 19, when a firecracker was launched from a car, causing an approaching vehicle to swerve sharply and nearly collide with another car.
He also approached an individual igniting fireworks in the town center of Harrow-on-the-Hill. “Children were crying, and residents were fleeing. I asked him to stop because it was frightening people, but he disregarded my plea.”
In Harrow, fireworks cannot be discharged between 11 PM and 7 AM, with exceptions made until 1 AM on Chinese New Year, Diwali, and New Year’s Eve, and until midnight on Bonfire Night.
Mr. To expressed his concern about a surge in dangerously discharged fireworks, stating, “I fear there will be even more reckless firework displays ahead.”
A spokesperson for Harrow Council reported that their enforcement team has encountered “entirely unacceptable” acts of recklessness, including fireworks being set off from moving vehicles, incidents which have been referred to the police.
The council has received over 300 reports of such occurrences, with officers managing to prevent 37 potentially dangerous incidents, while law enforcement is addressing more severe issues that arise late at night.
