Just one person convicted of fireworks offence

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice David Ford how many people in each court division were convicted for the possession of illegal fireworks during the period in question.

It emerges that one person convicted in Londonderry in 2006 was the only person convicted throughout the whole of Northern Ireland in that year. There were no convictions in Londonderry in 2004 or 2005.

Mr Ford gave details of the number convicted for the possession of prohibited fireworks by court division, under Regulations 4(2) & 13 Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2002.

He advised: “Data are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.”

He explained that the statistics covered the calendar years 2004 to 2006, the latest year for which figures are currently available.

“This was due to changes in how such data are collected but steps are now being taken as a matter of urgency to derive data for subsequent years,” he stated.

“It is hoped information for the period 2007 to mid 2009 will be available in the near future; work on data for 2010 is also progressing in parallel,” he added.