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F.I.R.S.T. - Fireworks Incident Research Safety Team



Firework misuse is a significant problem in the UK, encompassing the emergency services, the Health and Safety Executive and Trading Standards. Those misuses range from relatively minor forms of anti-social behaviour to involvement in major criminal activity and even murder.

The illegal storage of fireworks, fireworks used to attack firefighters and fireworks used to commit arson are just a few specific examples of how firework misuse directly and regularly affects fire services.

Whilst there are few national statistics it is clearly a national problem. Up to 20% of all sales are illegal and Merseyside saw firework misuse in Autumn 2003 cost nearly £2 million. Members of Parliament and local councillors receive more complaints from the public about fireworks than any other subject.

Until now there has been no single agency with the responsibility or the resources to deal with firework misuse. There was also no centrally organised source for information or advice. Then, in 2004 Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Merseyside Police established a joint Firework Incident Research Safety Team (F.I.R.S.T.). The result was a dramatic 79% drop in firework incidents in the County and more than 25 tonnes of illegal fireworks removed from the streets.

F.I.R.S.T. is now offering a range of services to significantly improve the ability of authorities all over the country, to deal with firework misuse and to take steps against those who are responsible. A three day training course at the Fire Service College is to be launched in May 2006 and a Secure Members page will provide subscribers with some of the more sensitive information - reports of incidents, downloads of guidance material, importation information and updates of ongoing incidents and operations.