Under-age firework sales check

Cheshire East Council trading standards team has run its annual operation to counter illegal sales of fireworks to under-age people.

As part of Operation Sheldon the team visited 20 premises across Chelford, Congleton, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Mobberley, Wilmslow, Crewe, Middlewich, Nantwich and Alsager on Monday 26 October.  The team used under-age volunteers who attempted to buy fireworks.

Of the 20 premises that were tested, 16 passed (80%), and  4 sales were made (20%) at outlets in Knutsford and Crewe.

The Council will now be conducting interviews and full investigations into the sales as well as notifying the premises that passed and complied with the legislation.

This operation saw underage volunteers attempting to purchase fireworks from the premises specified.  The trading standards team have a specific volunteer recruitment procedure, which includes verifying the volunteer’s age by viewing their original birth certificate and ensuring the volunteer looks their age.

Councillor Les Gilbert, Portfolio holder for Communities, said: “The Council takes the sale of fireworks to underage people extremely seriously. These fireworks attract a high risk of danger and injury to the person wielding the fireworks and the public and are best handled by a responsible adult.

“Children are unlikely to read the instructions fully and act responsibly when using fireworks, hence the age restriction associated with such products.

“We will now investigate these four incidents of sales and take any appropriate action.

”Anyone with concerns about the sale of fireworks should contact Trading Standards on 03454 040506