Ian Thomas was sentenced in respect of a charge brought by Gwynedd Council under the Explosives Act 1875 relating to the sale of fireworks on the public highway.

The court was told that Mr Thomas had been warned previously about selling fireworks from the back of his van while it was parked in the centre of Dolgellau but the police officer also passed information about Mr Thomas’ activities to Gwynedd Council Trading Standards officers. 

When a test purchase was attempted by a member of Council staff, Mr Thomas sold a box of fireworks to her for £20.

Following the sale, a search of the vehicle disclosed a considerable amount of fireworks which were consequently seized by Trading Standards officials.  The court order that these fireworks should now be forfeited by Mr Thomas and that they should be destroyed.

John Reynolds, Gwynedd Council’s Public Protection Manager (Trading Standards) said:

“With bonfire night approaching, we would urge members of the public to consider their own safety and that of their family and other members of the public and only buy fireworks from a registered retailer. 

“Anyone who has any information about fireworks being sold from a unlicensed source are urged to contact either the Police or Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards directly.”

The storage and sale of fireworks is regulated though a licensing system and firework retailers, in order to qualify for a storage licence, must be able to prove that the fireworks will be stored in accordance with strict safety provisions. 

In addition, due to the safety concerns with the misuse of fireworks, the sale of fireworks is restricted to people over the age of 18.

The licensing system also provides a means to regulate the quantity of fireworks being stored at any one time and ensures that the fireworks themselves conform with the safety standards set out in the British Standards BS7144: Part 2: 1988.

If you wish to contact Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards Team, call 01286 682728, or email them on: safmas@gwynedd.gov.uk