'Worst year' for fireworks misuse in Harrow

There are concerns about the risks of setting fireworks off in the street

A Harrow resident has claimed this has been the "worst year" he has experienced for fireworks being used in a dangerous or antisocial way.

Brandon To, who sits on the Roxborough Residents' Association Committee, said he "saw a firecracker thrown from a car towards oncoming vehicles" and a man "holding a box of fireworks on his head and [he] was shooting them up" outside residents' windows.

His fears come after Harrow Council launched a crackdown on the "reckless and antisocial use of fireworks" in streets and parks.

It is designed to prevent a repeat of the "reckless" use of fireworks which distressed many residents last year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Irresponsible'

The local council promised "enforcement teams out in force" from 18:00 to 22:00 every evening for the three weeks from 17 October to advise businesses and residents about their correct use.

It said it would take action against those "who think the rules don't apply to them", with fines up to £100 and set up a dedicated phone line for people to report issues.

Harrow's cabinet member for cleaner streets and public protection, Pritesh Patel said fireworks "can be fun, but they're not for everyone".

He added: "Last year we saw fireworks let off dangerously on our streets which is completely irresponsible and unacceptable."

Mr To told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there had almost been an accident when a firecracker was thrown from a car on 19 October.

"The oncoming vehicle swerved violently and almost crashed into another car."

He said he also confronted a man setting off fireworks in Harrow-on-the-Hill town centre.

"The kids were crying and the residents were all running away. I said 'can you please stop, it's scaring people' [but] he ignored me."

'Completely unacceptable'

Fireworks cannot be set off in Harrow between 23:00 and 07:00, but are allowed until 01:00 on Chinese New Year, Diwali, and New Year's Eve, and until midnight on Bonfire Night.

Mr To said: "I can foresee there will be even more fireworks that will be dangerously let off. "

A Harrow Council spokesperson said its enforcement team had witnessed "completely unacceptable" instances of reckless behaviour, including fireworks let off from a moving car, which they have escalated to the police.

They have taken more than 300 calls about incidents, with officers preventing 37 of those that could have been dangerous and the police handling more serious late night issues, the council said.