The son of a woman who passed away after fireworks were forcefully inserted into her letterbox expressed his optimism that government regulations will change.
Alan Smith, hailing from Romford in east London, has actively campaigned for restrictions on firework sales since the tragic loss of his mother, Josephine, in 2021.
Following a meeting with Kate Dearden, the under secretary of state for business and trade, on Monday, Smith shared that he felt she might actually take steps towards change.
This meeting was timed with an upcoming parliamentary debate concerning two petitions advocating for stricter regulations on fireworks.
Josephine Smith tragically lost her life when two teenagers, Kai Cooper, 18, and 15-year-old Callum Dunne, ignited a firework and sent it through her front door, igniting a fire.
During the purchase of the fireworks, Cooper allegedly inquired about “the best ones to aim at people,” and the pair had a history of throwing fireworks at passing vehicles and into store entrances before targeting the home of the 88-year-old woman.
One of the petitions requests that firework sales be restricted to licensed entities conducting organized displays.
Smith, who has previously submitted a similar petition to Parliament, remarked, “The motivation for my advocacy stemmed from the fact that when these two boys procured the fireworks, they explicitly stated their intention to instill fear in others, and they proceeded to act on that threat.”
The three-hour debate featured MPs recounting experiences of London residents adversely impacted by fireworks.
Calvin Bailey, the MP for Leyton and Wanstead, recounted an incident where a mother was pursued down the high street by children launching fireworks at her and her own children.
Helen Maguire, representing Epsom and Ewell, mentioned that “hundreds” of her constituents had raised concerns about the impact of loud noises from fireworks, particularly on animals.
Helen Whitelegg, from the Redwings Ada Cole horse sanctuary in Essex, supports the second petition discussed on Monday, which calls for legal noise limits on fireworks.
She explained that the deafening sounds of fireworks often induce panic in horses, putting their safety and that of others at risk.
One horse, named Cinders, suffered severe bone injuries due to the panic induced by fireworks and ultimately had to be euthanized.
“Extremely loud fireworks, in particular, can provoke that instinctive flight response and lead to chaotic behavior,” she noted.
Both petitions have the support of Smith and his local MP, Julia Lopez, who referenced another tragic incident involving a person who died after fireworks were “posted into his house,” stating, “This issue is raising significant concerns nationwide.”
In Parliament on Monday, Dearden addressed the petitions, affirming that the matter remains a “key priority for [her] department,” which will “continue to evaluate” the proposals to “lessen the repercussions of illegal firework usage in our communities.”
