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Medway Council's trading
standards carry out inspections ahead of Bonfire Night

by Nisha Chopra

On the eve of Bonfire night it seems
shops in Medway are toeing the line when it comes to selling
fireworks.

Under 18s working undercover for Medway Council's trading
standards have so far visited 52 shops – checking to see if
they can buy anything from sparklers to rocket launchers.

All of the stores asked to see some identification and none has
yet been found selling counterfeit fireworks.

In fact since 2008 the council say no retailers have been found
selling to underage people or illegal goods.

Punishments of up to six months jail or a £5,000 fine are what
stores can expect to get if they sell explosives to children.
There's a heftier 10 years' imprisonment for shops selling
fake ones.

Ian Gilmore, team leader for the council's trading standards,
says fakes are a persistent problem: "Every year there's an issue
with counterfeit products – although we've had none in Medway
so far.

"I understand its Black Cat bangers - and bangers are prohibited
anyway – so if any consumers do see these in stores please
contact us."

He added: "Fireworks come from lots of different sources so we
ask retailers to source their stock from legitimate wholesalers or
import them and take steps to make checks themselves.

"Each year we get isolated cases where traders aren't complying
with the law and because there's such a small window on fireworks
it's vital we get out and find out what's going on."

Councillor Mike O'Brien is also part of the operation: "These
checks are to stamp out antisocial behaviour - to protect
youngsters from getting damaged by lethal objects and to keep the
community safe."

For the past two years Kent County Council has decided not
to set up a similar procedure.

But, in a statement, a spokesman said: "We are continually
monitoring the sale of fireworks to anyone who is under-age.

"When reports are made of potential illegal activity we respond
accordingly."