Enjoy Fireworks safely and responsibly!

Enjoy Fireworks safely and responsibly!

Dear Resident,

Everyone should be able to enjoy fireworks safely, whether at an organised display or in their back garden. Here you’ll find out the law around using fireworks as well as how to stay safe, and report those using fireworks in a dangerous or threatening way. 

Fireworks: the law

It’s against the law for anyone to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except on certain occasions.

The law says you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.

What time can fireworks be used?

Fireworks can be used in the UK any time from 7am to 11pm.

You must not set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except for:

• Bonfire Night, (5 November):  when the cut off is midnight
• New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1am

Used irresponsibly, fireworks can cause damage to property and do significant harm to people and animals. Not only is there a danger from fireworks exploding, they can also pose a serious fire risk as well.

This is why members of the public may only use fireworks on private property, such as their back gardens, and only licensed professionals can use them in public places.

Harrow Council is working with partners over a two week operation to help prevent and respond to the unsafe or anti-social use of fireworks during the autumn festive period.

From 24 October to 10 November 2026, the council's Harrow Council Public Protection Team will carry out extra patrols across Harrow during the peak fireworks season, including Halloween, autumn half-term and Bonfire Night.

The team will work with residents, target known hotspots, use CCTV support where needed and respond quickly to reports of anti-social or dangerous firework use.

Please follow the link on Harrow Council website to know how to report unsafe or anti-social use of fireworks. https://talk.harrow.gov.uk/fireworks

Reporting fireworks misuse

Fireworks can be noisy and disruptive, and we know they can cause distress to some residents, pets and vulnerable people.

While fireworks can be enjoyed safely and legally, dangerous use on our streets and in public spaces has a significant impact and risk to others. This behaviour is unacceptable and illegal.

If fireworks are being used safely and lawfully in a private garden, the council cannot take action solely because of the noise. However, if fireworks are being set off in a street, park or other public place, how you report it depends on when it is happening.

If it is happening between 7pm and 10pm

Call Harrow Council dedicated evening phone line on 020 4604 2775. The team will assess reports that may need a same-evening response.

The line will be open from 7pm to 10pm each evening, and until 11pm on 8 November.

If fireworks are being set off outside the permitted times

Setting off fireworks outside the permitted times is an offence enforced by the police, not the council. Report this to the police on 101.

If there is immediate danger

If fireworks are being used dangerously and there is an immediate risk to life or property, call 999. Do not approach anyone who is using fireworks.