Namik Kemal, owner of Magic Prices, Welling, received a £600 fine and
was ordered to pay £400 costs for selling fireworks outside of the permitted
time period at Bexley Magistrates' Court earlier this week (30 June).
Recent government restrictions mean that fireworks can only be sold by licensed
firework sellers during certain dates around Guy Fawkes, New Year, Chinese New
Year and Diwali.
The Guy Fawkes restriction dates are from 15 October to 10 November. On 22
November last year, Mr Kemal sold fireworks worth £18 to a customer, taking
them into a stock room at the rear of the shop to do so.
The customer was in fact a Trading Standards Officer from the London Borough
of Bexley’s Public Protection Service carrying out routine checks to ensure
that the law was being observed.
Cabinet Member for Community Affairs, Cllr
Katie Perrior is pleased with the
outcome of the case. She said: "The firework restrictions exist to reduce
the nuisance that fireworks can cause. To sell them in this irresponsible manner
just shows contempt for the community and for the law. Once again our Trading
Standards Team have succeeded in protecting the public from reckless selling."
Mr Namik Kemal, of Birbetts Road, Mottingham, SE9 3NG pleaded guilty to the
offence.
