Flares - demonstrating thereof and relevant legislation

[Stork_III]

The problem is that most of the Acts and prosecutions refer to causing an explosion "likely to endanger life". Whilst firing a parachute flare at a football match would likely be classified as such, a well organised flare demonstration presumably wouldn't. I'll have a word with an ex crown prosecution barrister friend when next I meet up with her and see if she can come up with anything.

Flares and football are covered by specific law (Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985). It is illegal to possess within a ground or when attempting to enter a ground (which has a very wide definition). 3 months custodial is normal.

 

[lw395]

The bloke in Cornwall? Presumably the Merchant Shipping Regulations that bring SOLAS V into UK law. Regulation 35 of SOLAS V prohibits the use of distress signals when there isn't an emergency.

The point of this thread is that all that stuff only applies at sea, not in your back garden at home, so some other theory has to be found to back up the general statement that letting off flares outside an emergency is illegal everywhere.

Pete

Doing anything that significantly endangers anyone else or their property will get you in trouble if you are unlucky.
Not many places where you'd want the local chavs to be letting off rocket flares.
Handhelds, smokes etc are a different matter perhaps.

There is an awful lot of catch-all legislation these days. HASAWA for a start if anyone is getting paid for anything.
It is sometimes quite bizarre what they choose to charge people with, even if it's obvious that what someone is doing is basically wrong.

 

[prv]

Sure - I'm not the one having the argument, just trying to clarify what the argument is

Pete