Following on from the success of the inaugural IFSM Awards in 2025, the event returned for its second year, bringing together fire safety professionals, industry leaders, organisations and IFSM members alike in order to recognise the individuals and businesses making an exceptional contribution to fire safety.

The ceremony celebrated excellence across seven award categories, duly recognising professional achievement, innovation, leadership and dedication to improving fire safety standards.

The evening was hosted by Jon Briggs, famously known as the original UK voice of Siri, who guided guests through the awards ceremony. Entertainment was provided by comedian Josh Daniels, who brought plenty of laughter to the occasion, alongside live musical performances from talented singer Dylan Dale.

With 191 guests in attendance, the event provided an opportunity for members of the fire safety community to join forces, celebrate their achievements and recognise the dedication and hard work taking place throughout the profession.

IFSM Awards 2026: The Winners

The winners of the various categories for the IFSM Awards 2026 are as follows:

*Accredited Course of the Year: Fike Safety Technology

*Fire Safety Company of the Year: Global HSE Group

*Fire Safety Team of the Year (pictured, above): Torus62

*Fire Safety Project of the Year: Fire Protection Association

*Fire Safety Manager of the Year: Ben Duggan

*Young Fire Professional of the Year: Oliver Hamblett

*Fire Safety Professional of the Year: Colin Todd MBE

Each award recognises exceptional achievement and the important contribution made by individuals, teams and organisations towards improving fire safety standards and protecting lives and property.

The IFSM Awards were established to celebrate the achievements of those working tirelessly to advance the fire safety profession, while providing an opportunity to recognise both established industry leaders and emerging talent.

The Institute is delighted by the support received from members, nominees, sponsors and guests, whose involvement helped to make the second annual ceremony a memorable occasion.

Recognition for dedication

Dave White, chair and managing director of the IFSM, informed Fire Safety Matters: “We were absolutely delighted with the turnout for our second IFSM Awards and would like to extend our congratulations to all of this year’s winners, finalists and nominees.”

White continued: “The reason why we hold these awards is to shine a spotlight on our members and recognise the incredible hard work, dedication and achievements that can so often go unnoticed. In our industry, doing a good job often means that nothing happens. Fires are prevented, incidents are avoided and, most importantly, people are kept safe. That’s something we should never take for granted, and it’s exactly why recognising the people behind that work is so very important.”

In conclusion, White stated: “We are incredibly proud of our members and everything they contribute to the fire safety profession. It was fantastic to bring everyone together to celebrate their achievements and we’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year.”

*Further information is available online at www.ifsm.org.uk

Upwards of 6,000 companies were contacted to take part in the Trade Association’s third annual survey of the industry’s response to the Act of Parliament, the results if which have revealed that awareness is now widespread. Most firms (64% of respondents, in fact) feel confident they could demonstrate their duty holder requirements “very well”.

Rachel Davidson, BESA’s director of specialist knowledge, stated: “Four years after the Building Safety Act came into force, more firms are building the knowledge and behaviours needed for a safer built environment. This represents real progress. We’re now moving from raising awareness to helping firms meet the assurance challenge in demonstrating their competence and compliance in practice.”

Davidson added: “However, there’s a level of frustration about information overload, commercial pressures and clients who are ‘not on the same page’. There are still firms that are not engaging with the process at any level, but their numbers are shrinking.”

Client behaviour

Almost three-quarters of respondents (ie 74%) said they had not seen any significant change in client behaviour since the Building Safety Act came into force. While contractors and specialists are adapting their systems and processes, some respondents questioned whether or not client behaviours, procurement practices and understanding of their responsibilities were changing at the same pace.

One respondent observed: “This results in conflict as we resist. Ultimately, we’re commercially punished for standing our ground and doing the job properly.”

Earlier this year, the BESA produced its Client’s Guide to the Building Safety Act. This document simplifies and explains client responsibilities under the Act of Parliament and focuses on the practical implications.

Micro business adaptation

According to the new BESA survey, smaller firms continue to adapt more slowly to the new safety regime. One-in-five respondents from micro and smaller organisations (21%) admitted they had made no significant changes, compared with just 5% of medium and large-scale operations.

One-in-three respondents to the survey said that one of the biggest challenges is demonstrating competence in practice, stressing the very real difference between holding a qualification and actually being able to do the work. 40% noted that competence issues are identified “frequently or occasionally”.

Historic compliance is a “ticking time bomb” according to some respondents, with only 30% suggesting they feel confident they could provide evidence of competence and compliance in projects carried out more than ten years ago.

Similarly, it’s hard to nail down evidence of supply chain competence with around one-in-three respondents reporting “challenges” in demonstrating the necessary assurance across those whom they appoint.

*Copies of the BESA Building Safety Act Industry Report 2026 can be downloaded at www.thebesa.com

Acting on behalf of the East Sussex Fire Authority, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has successfully prosecuted Gareth Reed and his company, Riverstone-Abbey Estate Agents Limited. At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 October, Reed was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay a £2,000 statutory victim surcharge, while his company was fined £7,500.

In addition, Reed was ordered to pay £2,525.31 to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service towards the costs of the investigation.

The prosecution follows a fire that occurred in Hughenden Road, Hastings on 15 May 2025 at a property then managed by Reed and his company. Three individuals suffered smoke inhalation after residents became trapped inside the premises as smoke filled the common areas and obstructed their escape.

Fire safety deficiencies identified

Following the fire, fire safety inspecting officers from the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service attended the premises and identified significant fire safety deficiencies. Among those deficiencies were the following: 

*a fire detector that didn’t appear to be secured in its intended position on the kitchen ceiling 

*doors that were not fire-resisting and were not fitted with self-closing devices 

*a lack of evidence that residents had been provided with information about what to do in the event of a fire outbreak

Statutory powers under Article 27 of the Fire Safety Order enable authorised inspectors – where necessary to enforce fire safety legislation – to enter and inspect premises, make enquiries and require relevant documentation to be provided. These powers help to determine whether premises are being managed safely and whether those responsible are complying with their legal duties.

Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard that Reed (the sole director of Riverstone-Abbey Estate Agents Limited) had failed, without reasonable excuse, to provide the documents and information required.

Clear message

The message is clear: official correspondence from the Fire and Rescue Service must not be ignored. Businesses, landlords, managing agents and those with fire safety responsibilities should ensure official correspondence is dealt with promptly and responded to within the required timeframe. If there’s any uncertainty or difficulty meeting a deadline, they should contact the inspector without delay.

A letter from the Fire and Rescue Service may be an important step in identifying and addressing risks posed to life. Reading it, acting on it and responding appropriately are essential steps in protecting occupants and ensuring compliance with fire safety legislation.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places legal duties on the ‘Responsible Person’ to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of relevant persons from fire.

‘Responsible Persons’ should: 

*ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is in place and kept under review 

*implement and maintain appropriate fire safety measures 

*establish reliable arrangements for receiving and responding to official correspondence 

*never ignore letters, notices or requests for information from authorised fire safety inspectors 

*respond to lawful requests within the specified timeframe and contact the inspector promptly if clarification or additional time is needed

*ensure that anyone responsible for managing fire safety understands their legal duties and knows how to escalate official communications

Responding to correspondence

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service station manager (legal and enforcement) Jake Kaye said: “Effective fire safety management is essential to reduce the likelihood of fire and to ensure that, should a fire occur, it can be detected quickly and occupants can escape safely.”

Kaye continued: “This case also highlights the importance of responding to official correspondence. Ignoring a letter or failing to respond to a lawful request for information is not a way in which to avoid scrutiny. It can lead to further enforcement action and prosecution.”

In addition, Kaye stated: “We hope this prosecution and the penalties imposed by Brighton Magistrates’ Court serve as a clear reminder that fire safety responsibilities must be taken seriously and that lawful requests from authorised inspectors must be dealt with promptly.”

George O’Reilly (East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s assistant director of risk reduction) explained: “I would like to thank Brighton Magistrates’ Court for its careful consideration of this case, as well as our legal team and fire safety officers for their professionalism.”

O’Reilly went on to comment: “Official correspondence from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service must not be ignored. We will always seek to work constructively with businesses and ‘Responsible Persons’ to help them understand and meet their fire safety responsibilities. However, this doesn’t remove the obligation to co-operate with authorised inspectors and comply with lawful requirements made during an investigation.”

In conclusion, O’Reilly informed Fire Safety Matters: “East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has a statutory duty to enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We take that responsibility very seriously indeed. Where failures to comply with fire safety legislation occur, we will consider proportionate enforcement action. This prosecution demonstrates that we will use the powers available to us where necessary to uphold fire safety standards and protect members of the public.”

*Further information is available online at www.esfrs.org

Organised by Western Business Media Ltd, the Fire and Security Matters Awards enjoyed a record number of 430-plus entries in 2026 for their fifth iteration, while upwards of 860 guests attended the ‘sold out’ awards ceremony held at the Coventry Building Society (CBS) Arena on the evening of 2 July.

In 2027, the Fire and Security Matters Awards are once again free to enter and duly recognise excellence and innovation in the fire and security sectors.

Our sponsors also include Apollo Fire Detectors, C-TEC, Gerda Security Products, Keri Systems and Suprema Systems UK.

The Fire Industry Association, the Institute of Fire Safety Managers, the National Security Inspectorate and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board are among our industry supporters.

The winners of the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2027 will be revealed at a gala black-tie dinner and ceremony to be held at the CBS Arena on 1 July.

It only takes a few minutes of your time to enter the Fire and Security Matters Awards. This is the perfect way in which to gain much-deserved recognition for either yourself, your team, a colleague, your organisation, a product/service or a specific project.

Enter online NOW!

Watch the highlights video from the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2026...

Categories in 2027

The list of categories for 2027 is as follows:

Fire categories

*Fire Safety Innovation of the Year

*Fire Safety Training Company of the Year

*Fire Safety Manufacturer of the Year

*Fire Safety Installation Company of the Year

*Fire Safety Project of the Year

*Fire Safety Manager of the Year

*Fire Safety Team of the Year

*Fire Industry Woman of the Year

*Fire Safety Consultancy of the Year

Security categories

*Security Innovation of the Year

*Security Training Company of the Year

*Security Manufacturer of the Year

*Security Installation Company of the Year

*Security Project of the Year

*Security/Risk Manager of the Year

*Security Guarding Company of the Year

*Security Team of the Year

*Security Industry Woman of the Year

*Security Consultancy of the Year

Joint Fire and Security categories

*ESG Company of the Year

*Distributor of the Year

*Commercial Team of the Year

*Customer Service Award

*Unsung Hero of the Year Award

*Rising Star of the Year Award

As always, there’s also going to be the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, the recipient of which will be chosen by the members of the independent Judging Panel.

Deadline for entries

*The deadline for entries is 16 April 2027 at 23.55 pm

**Click here to submit your entry/entries!

***Further information about the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2027 is available online

Run in parallel with the Women in Safety and Health Awards, this year’s Women in Fire Safety Awards generated over 250 entries and achieved a record ‘sold out’ crowd of more than 650 guests.

The Headline Sponsor for the Women in Fire Safety Awards 2026 was Apollo Fire Detectors. Additional event sponsors in 2026 included the CHPK Group, WisuAlarm, Design Fire Consultants, the Fire Protection Association, Mott MacDonald, The Fire Safety Event Europe, OFR Consultants, Arup, the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board, the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and Xact Consultancy and Training.

The Welcoming Address was expertly delivered by Leanne Velez (head of commercial for the Fire Safety Matters portfolio at Western Business Media), with the various categories introduced by Chloe Antoniuk and Kate Blake (the founders of the Women in Fire Safety Awards).

Women in Fire Safety Awards 2026: The Winners

Administrator of the Year (Sponsored by the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board)

*Winner: Lucy Magee (Apollo Fire Detectors)

*Highly Commended: Jaheda Begum (Peabody)

*Commended: Emma Russell (CHPK Group)

*Commended: Hayley Saint (The Portmarnock Group)

Diversity Champion of the Year (Sponsored by Xact Consultancy and Training)

*Winner: Sarah Forbes (Design Fire Consultants)

*Highly Commended: Lucy Mather (West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service)

*Commended: Lesley Leach (Chubb Fire & Security)

Excellence Award (Business) (Sponsored by OFR Consultants)

*Winner: Nicola John (Fire Door Maintenance Training and Development)

*Highly Commended: Charlotte Manley (C-TEC)

*Commended: Jennifer Whalley (Warringtonfire)

Excellence Award (Fire Consultant) (Sponsored by the CHPK Group)

*Winner: Davinia Potterton (The DALA Group)

*Highly Commended: Kristie Sullivan (Warringtonfire)

*Commended: Catherine Owen (PartB)

Excellence Award (Fire Engineer) (Sponsored by Design Fire Consultants)

*Winner: Mabel Higgins (MH Fire Safety Ltd)

*Highly Commended: Dr Shuyuan Lin (Axion Consultancy Limited)

*Commended: Maisie Gleeson (OFR Consultants)

*Commended: Zuzanna Bialkowska (Axion Consultancy Limited)

Excellence Award (Social Housing) (Sponsored by the Institute of Fire Safety Managers)

*Winner: Claire Charles (Tenos Ltd)

*Highly Commended: Stevie Cox (Global HSE Group)

*Commended: Heather Langridge (Southern Housing)

Global Research Award (Sponsored by Arup)

*Winner: Fiona Cornfield (The Fire Protection Association)

*Highly Commended: Dr Brittany Hollerbach (Centre for Fire, Rescue and EMS Health Research) (Part of NDRI-USA)

Inclusive Company Award (Sponsored by the Fire Protection Association)

*Winner: Trigon Fire Safety

*Highly Commended: Mott MacDonald

*Commended: Design Fire Consultants

International Rising Star Award (Sponsored by Apollo Fire Detectors)

*Winner: Gizelle Danine Jamero (Arup)

International Woman of the Year

*Winner: Amanda Kimball (Fire Protection Research Association/National Fire Protection Association)

*Highly Commended: Anne Wijayasuriya (Joule Group)

*Christina Alexandropoulou (Philip Morris International)

Rising Star Award (Sponsored by The Fire Safety Event Europe)

*Winner: Momoi Suda (Arup)

*Highly Commended: Pragati Yarlagadda (Olympus Management)

*Commended: Egle Siusiene (Apollo Fire Detectors)

Woman of the Year (Sponsored by Mott MacDonald)

*Winner: Ruth Oliver (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association)

*Highly Commended: Vicki Swaine (3Safety)

*Commended: Kate Swinburne (OFR Consultants)

*Commended: Tracy Gregory (Premier Technical Services Group Fire Consultancy Division)

Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by WisuAlarm)

*Winner: Liz Parry

View the photo gallery from the 2026 Women in Fire Safety Awards online at www.flickr.com

Fire Aware’s CEO Gavin Skelly has declared: “We need to act quickly. Cultural change is starting to happen, but not nearly fast enough. As we approach the tenth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, we need to know that we’re all subscribing to the same principles of Best Practice.”

In a statement issued for the fire safety and related sectors, Skelly said: “The consumer should ultimately be able to choose companies who are brave enough to corporately commit to responsible behaviours.”

Correct behaviours breed competence

Further, Skelly commented: “As an industry, we need to signal clearly to the market that we’re adopting all Best Practice methods to ensure safety for the public without them having to challenge companies on issues of competence. If the behaviours are correct within a given business, the competence will naturally follow.”

Skelly went on to state: “After all that has happened, and the change that has been introduced, it’s difficult to comprehend that we’re still seeing examples of companies cutting corners in the name of commercial gain.”

According to Skelly, providing the consumer with a choice to make about their service provider’s cultural and moral behaviours is “surely as important” as identifying their technical ability when people’s lives are at stake.

“This choice cannot be confined solely to those who construct,” observed Skelly. “It must encompass the entire supply chain with a simple unifying message that means the same wherever the consumer sees it. Technically, the public doesn’t know what competence looks like, but they know how safe they feel. When things go wrong, they will be the judge to help change happen.”

As an organisation, Fire Aware continues to demand the highest standards technically and morally in order to ensure that people – and the buildings they inhabit/visit – are safe at all times. “This industry is a vocation and should be treated as such,” concluded Skelly.

Regulatory reform

The introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the creation of the Building Safety Regulator – along with other legislation – has added additional regulatory reform to the building safety industry.

For their part, Fire Aware’s members commit to a Code of Conduct with specific charters which take the safety process beyond legislation. Skelly has emphasised that the fire safety principles of the organisation are relevant to any sector which relies on Best Practice (including the retail industry, the hospitality domain, stadiums, healthcare and public infrastructure).

Dame Judith Hackitt has called for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours with support from the Building Safety Regulator, itself created to promote competence and higher standards.

Fire Aware is a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with a common aim to work and trade responsibly to all Best Practice standards in the interests of the general public’s safety.

*Further information is available online at www.fireaware.org

Conference brought together manufacturers, researchers, consultants, approval bodies and fire safety professionals to discuss the latest developments in water mist technology, standards, research and practical applications.

This year’s event programme introduced two successful additions: a dedicated training workshop, attracting more than 60 participants who received Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificates, and a technical site visit to Prague's National Technical Library. The latter’s water mist installation has been in operation for 18 years now. In fact, the building also served as the venue for the International Water Mist Conference when it was last held in Prague back in 2010.

The workshop was based on the IWMA’s newly published practical design guide for water mist systems, which provides a structured and step-by-step approach towards system design: from identifying fire risks and applicable standards through to system verification and implementation.

In essence, the guide aims to support designers, authorities and other stakeholders in applying water mist technology correctly and consistently.

New IWMA initiatives

During conference, the IWMA also presented several new initiatives aimed at strengthening competence and improving access to technical information.

One of these is ‘Mist Protects’: a new online platform scheduled for launch later this year. It will provide a central location for collecting and sharing documented real-world fire incidents, water mist installations, research findings, Case Studies and other relevant information. The ultimate objective is to make practical experience and technical evidence more accessible to the global fire protection community.

Together with the new design guide and training workshop, this initiative represents an important step in the IWMA’s ongoing efforts to promote knowledge sharing, technical competence and evidence-based fire protection.

Improving competence

“The 25th International Water Mist Conference demonstrated how far our industry has developed,” observed Max Lakkonen, president of the IWMA. “With almost 200 delegates from 32 countries, strong participation in our new workshop and several important initiatives underway, we are taking further steps towards improving competence, sharing knowledge and strengthening the position of water mist technology in the fire protection domain.”

Lakkonen has announced that the 26^th International Water Mist Conference will take place in Paris on 6-8 October 2027. Conference will be held at The Meliá Paris La Défense Hotel.

The event schedule is now available on the IWMA’s website. The first important date is 15 December, which is when the Call for Papers will be issued and sponsors can start booking tabletops for the exhibition, which will run alongside conference.

The IWMA is now looking back at two extremely successful events with nearly 170 attendees in 2025 and over 180 attendees this time around. Also, the number of sponsors has increased in comparison to previous years. Bettina McDowell, CEO at the IWMA, said: “We do think that this is a trend and we’re preparing for another very successful conference in Paris.”

Ragnar Wighus Award

The deadline to submit applications for the Ragnar Wighus Award is 31 March. In 2027, this prestigious accolade will be presented to the author of the best PhD thesis related to water mist technology.

The IWMA’s Scientific Council, chaired by Kemal Sarp Arsava from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, will evaluate the submissions. The winner will be invited to present the winning thesis in Paris.

*Further information is available online at https://iwma.net/home

Much of the site was constructed in the 1930s to serve as the London Fire Brigade’s headquarters. In the 1980s, an extension was added to the building in order to house the service’s Control Room. The approved plans will now see both the original 1930s building and the later extension refurbished.

Part of the works on the site will see the existing Lambeth Fire Station, which occupies the ground and first floor of the building, modernised and refitted. This will include new equipment stores and workspaces, as well as remodelled accommodation for firefighters. Training facilities on the site will be improved and the station’s appliance bays adapted for modern emergency vehicles.

The building’s vacant office space will be brought back into service as the Brigade’s headquarters. These offices will become home to the professional services that facilitate the London Fire Brigade’s daily work. Moving the London Fire Brigade’s headquarters back to Lambeth also creates value for money for Londoners by removing the need to rent office space.   

The redevelopment at Lambeth will also provide new community spaces for local residents and Londoners. Plans will see the creation of a new community room at the base of the 1980s extension and open for use by local resident groups. Alongside this will be a new home for the London Fire Brigade’s historic collection. Centred around the Brigade’s existing Memorial Hall, where the sacrifice of fallen London firefighters is remembered, it will be a space where the public can learn about and engage with the Brigade’s history.

Series of consultations

In order to ensure the views and needs of nearby residents and the local community were considered, the Brigade conducted a series of consultations with the local community prior to submitting its planning application, which followed a thorough options appraisal.

London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: “Moving back to Lambeth is an historic occasion for the London Fire Brigade. This building is part of the culture of the organisation and I know it holds a very special significance across our workforce.”

Smith continued: “These plans will not just deliver an upgraded fire station to serve the people of Lambeth, but also provide a modern headquarters for the Brigade, while at the same time preserving an important part of the Brigade and London’s history.”

According to Smith: “Refurbishing and modernising an existing building offers the best value for Londoners and ensures that we maintain an important presence in the heart of the capital.”

The project will be delivered by Willmott Dixon Interiors and Pick Everard on behalf of the Brigade. Turley has provided planning consultancy services, Kanda has led community and stakeholder engagement and 5 Plus has developed the Stage 2 architectural design.

*Further information is available online at www.london-fire.gov.uk

At the Thomas Bullock Primary Academy in Shipdham, Norfolk, a fire on 13 August caused extensive damage to the Church of England Primary School. The cause was ultimately traced to an unlikely source: refracted light from a Perspex canopy in the reception outdoor area. The result, however, was all too familiar.

Families were informed that children would begin the autumn term remotely on 3 September while temporary accommodation was arranged on-site. Staff met with loss adjusters and worked to make the building safe.

For new reception children, home visits already agreed with parents went ahead as planned, but the first days of school life looked very different from what their families had anticipated.

In Barrow, parents of children attending Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School were told the school would open as normal following a fire on 21 August. This was a more fortunate outcome, but one that still required rapid reassurance to a Cumbrian community braced for further disruption.

Further north in the Scottish Borders, the impact was more significant. A fire on 25 July at Newtown Primary in Newton St Boswells caused £240,000 of damage and left the school unusable for months. A teenager has been charged over the blaze, but an equally troubling detail emerged: internal doors had been left open, allowing smoke to spread far more extensively than it might otherwise have done.

Pupils began the new term in temporary accommodation at the Scottish Borders Council headquarters, with nursery children relocated to a nearby primary school. The incident has since prompted a safety review across all schools and council-owned facilities in the Scottish Borders, examining fire doors as well as the proximity of rubbish bins to buildings.

Established pattern

These incidents sit within a well-established pattern. School fires are not rare events. The Government’s own Risk Protection Arrangement data, covering seven years of claims to December 2025, records an average fire claim of around £450,000, although the figure swings significantly from year to year. Figures for the first half of the 2025-2026 academic year already showed claims averaging close to £1 million each across a small number of incidents.

These figures capture only what can be counted in pounds: buildings, contents and equipment. They cannot capture what it costs a child to begin the school year in a council chamber rather than a classroom, or what it means for a family with a reception-age child to navigate remote learning in their first week.

Research completed by the Department for Education suggests that each lost day of education can reduce a pupil’s lifetime earnings by around £750. Across a school harbouring several hundred children, even a brief closure quickly becomes a six-figure impact before any structural damage has been assessed.

Fewer than one in every ten new schools in England are built with fire sprinkler systems installed. A fire doesn’t need to destroy a school in order to close it. A blaze in a roof space, a canopy or an adjacent structure can be enough.

What sprinklers offer is containment. This is the difference between a fire being held to its point of origin and one that forces an entire community to improvise an education regime in the opening weeks of term.

*Further information is available online at www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org

At Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 6 October, Hashum Malik (director of Boom Fireworks Limited) pleaded guilty to offences relating to the storage of fireworks after specialist Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service inspectors discovered around 200 kg of Hazard Type 3 (HT3) fireworks being stored contrary to licensing requirements.

In separate cases heard at Tameside Magistrates’ Court on 11 September, Shabaz Ali Abbas of Broomhurst Avenue in Oldham and Said Shiragha Hashimi of Nevada Street in Manchester were sentenced for offences under the Explosives Regulations 2014.

The prosecutions were brought forward by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which licenses the storage of explosives (including fireworks) across the city-region.

Boom Fireworks Limited

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that Boom Fireworks Limited, which operates distribution premises in Cheetham Hill and Rochdale, was found to be storing approximately 200 kg of HT3 fireworks in breach of explosives legislation.

HT3 fireworks present a greater fire, blast and projectile risk than standard HT4 retail fireworks and, as such, are subject to stricter storage requirements. Following on from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service inspection, the fireworks were detained and removed from the premises.

Boom Fireworks Limited was fined £40,000 in addition to being ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge. Manchester Magistrates’ Court also awarded full prosecution costs of £3,482.16, bringing the total fine to £45,485.16.

The Vape Store and Wise Buys

In Oldham, Shabaz Ali Abbas was found to be storing and selling fireworks at The Vape Store on Hollins Road that he owns, despite his explosives licence having expired on 31 October 2024.

When specialist fire safety inspectors visited the premises on 2 November 2024, they found fireworks still being stored, including higher-risk HT3 fireworks.

The stock was detained and removed. Abbas has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete a ten-day Community Order.

Tameside Magistrates’ Court awarded full prosecution costs of £4,162.11, together with a victim surcharge of £187, and ordered the fireworks seized from the premises to be destroyed.

In Bolton, inspectors found fireworks being stored and sold at Wise Buys on Bury Road without a valid explosives licence. It emerged that owner Said Shiragha Hashimi had taken over the business in 2023, but had not applied for a licence in his own name.

Inspectors found fireworks stored in unsuitable conditions, including some HT3 fireworks at premises with residential accommodation on upper floors.

Hashimi was sentenced to 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, requiring him to participate in targeted rehabilitative programmes. He was also made subject to a three-month curfew. Tameside Magistrates’ Court awarded full prosecution costs of £4,281.82 and a victim surcharge of £114.

Tameside Magistrates’ Court ordered that the fireworks seized at the premises had to be destroyed.

Robust action

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Fireworks are enjoyed by many people across Greater Manchester at this time of the year. Storing them safely is essential for protecting the public, businesses and property.”

Green added: “These prosecutions demonstrate that we will take robust action against anyone who fails to store, supply or sell fireworks safely and legally.”

Further, Green noted: “We are committed to supporting businesses that want to comply with the law, but we will not hesitate to take tough enforcement action against those who put our communities and firefighters at risk.”

Karl Gibbons, head of protection at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, explained: “Fireworks are explosives and the rules governing how they are stored exist to protect businesses, residents, customers and the wider public.”

Gibbons went on to state: “These prosecutions involve both a national distributor and local retailers, but the message is the same regardless of the size of the business. Anyone storing fireworks must understand and comply with their legal responsibilities.”

In addition, Gibbons said: “Our inspectors work closely with businesses throughout the year to help them meet those requirements and maintain safe storage arrangements. However, when businesses fail to comply with the law and create unnecessary risk, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action, including the potential for prosecution.”

Appropriate licences

With the main fireworks sales period now taking place, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is reminding businesses that anyone storing, supplying or selling fireworks must ensure they have the appropriate licences in place and are complying with explosives legislation. Any failure to do so may result in enforcement action.

The prosecutions outlined form part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s wider work to improve fireworks safety across the city region. Through its Bonfire and Halloween campaign, the Fire and Rescue Service works with businesses, partners and communities alike in order to raise awareness of the risks associated with fireworks and promote their safe and lawful storage, sale and use.

Businesses that store, supply or sell fireworks should ensure they understand their legal responsibilities and have the correct licences in place.

*Further guidance on licensing requirements, storage standards and explosives legislation is available on the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Fireworks and Explosives web pages