Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of firework-related crime; and what steps her Department is taking to help tackle firework-related crime.

Recent reports of protesters firing fireworks are wholly unacceptable. In some cases, fireworks have been aimed towards police and have injured officers. The Government fully condemns this behaviour and supports police in their robust use of powers to tackle disruptive activity of this kind.

It is a criminal offence for any person to throw, cast or fire a firework in a street or public place. The police have the power to arrest anyone who breaks this law. The Government has been in regular contact with the police over the use of their powers to manage disruption during protests.

The Government regularly reviews legislation to ensure it safeguards the public and adequately reflects challenges that are likely to be faced today. As such, where gaps in legislation are identified, we will seek to address them.

More generally, the Government's intention has always been to minimise any negative impact of fireworks and we support their considerate use, reducing the risks and disturbances to individuals, animals, and property.