How to dispose of old flares safely?

[alldownwind]

Now you come to mention it, the RYA did the same at one of their cruising conferences that I attended years ago. I'd imagine that the RYA demo used in-date flares supplied by a manufacturer for the purpose. The RNLI might have been a bit more cavalier a few years ago, but I bet not now.
Elfen Safety would put the mockers on any 'organised' demo using out of date stuff, wouldn't it, because of severe lack of any public liability insurance available for an event using explosives contrary to the makers' instructions.

 

[KREW2]

I phoned up Portland CG to say I had some flares to dispose of, they told me not to take them to their HQ, as they had a special container they use for transporting old flares and, they would call round and pick them up, which they duly did.

 

[AlJones]

Flares, who can collect them?

Hi Al

A point I am so surprised that hasn't been brought up yet is, in this current time of terrorist threat, were you aren't allowed to take water or nail scissors on air craft etc The government are more than happy for any person, or group of people to go and purchase explosives from a swindlery?

Propellant in these canisters are of a high standard, not to mention the phosphorus!!

I spoke with a company, which will remain nameless, which was in touch with 'a government section' outlining that whilst looking for a company via the www to pass on his flares, he found a web site giving detailed ways of breaking these things down and making an IED!!!!!!!!!

Flares are dangerous in the wrong hands, and things do go wrong. Wasn't it only two three months ago that a poor guy had his stomach opened by one during a demo?

What happens when a company starts up to take these of our hands, and then uses them for terrorist activities? Would we all be 'done' for supplying????????????

Wake up Government, tax on red diesel or find somewhere we can dispose of our out of date flares before some others do. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

If you take these to a Police station, I can categorically state that you will be filling out forms for a while as the Police realise that these are covered by the Firearms and ammunition act!

An easier way is to be found, before some other 'company' does it for us, and the government then spend thousands on another enquiry as to how this happened!! Which we will all end up paying for, in some way or another.

I'm off my soap box now.

AJ

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

[ QUOTE ]
....If you take these to a Police station, I can categorically state that you will be filling out forms for a while as the Police realise that these are covered by the Firearms and ammunition act!....

[/ QUOTE ]
No they are not. Ordinary handheld flares are not covered by any firearms or ammunition act - shops wouldn't be able to sell them over the counter if they were.

When I took some to the local police station here, I filled out a basic form that gave them the authority to dispose of them. They have suitable storage and hand them over to the Ordnance disposal people when they come over. No problem at all - it was dealt with by a civilian in the Lost Property office.

 

[AlJones]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

Hi

You see this is the problem that we have, I was told this at Chelmsford Police station!!!!

Do you reckon that due to the fact that Chelmsford Prob don't have that many dealings with this than say a Solent Constabulary, they fob of the prob by saying this?

What do you think of the rest of the post?

AJ

 

[alldownwind]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

Al, I'm struggling to understand why all the folk with flares to dispose of don't just pick up the phone to their nearest Coastguard centre, if there is one nearby.........(ducks head below parapet again)

 

[peterb]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

[ QUOTE ]

Hi

You see this is the problem that we have, I was told this at Chelmsford Police station!!!!

Do you reckon that due to the fact that Chelmsford Prob don't have that many dealings with this than say a Solent Constabulary, they fob of the prob by saying this?

[/ QUOTE ]

I had a similar problem at Hemel Hempstead some years ago. I took in a para flare, to ask about the requirements for demonstrating it. Was immediately asked for my firearms licence by the PC on duty, who insisted that anything with a "barrel" more than four inches long required a licence. When I objected he called the sergeant. The sergeant duly appeared, and said "Hello Peter, are you going to let that thing off? Lete me know when and where, I'd like to watch." He had just finished a Day Skipper course with me.

It's not what you know, it's who you know.

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

[ QUOTE ]

Hi

You see this is the problem that we have, I was told this at Chelmsford Police station!!!!

Do you reckon that due to the fact that Chelmsford Prob don't have that many dealings with this than say a Solent Constabulary, they fob of the prob by saying this?

What do you think of the rest of the post?

AJ

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't bother with flares for terrorism, a sudden bulk order by foreign looking gentlemen would probably raise suspicions - the Irish certainly didn't see them as a viable proposition, I have never heard of an instance of them being used in that way (apart from the odd football match). There is much more easily available stuff that can cause bigger bangs.

As for getting rid of your flares, take them to a different police station and tell them that you found them. They would have to accept them then. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[AlJones]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

Hey that's a good idea, different police stations!

The problem I have is I run seven boats, as part of a sailing school. I have loads of out of date flares ready to be handed over.

Something will be done soon to sort this problem.

Thanks ever so much for your help and advice though.

Regards

AJ

 

[AlJones]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

Understand your views.

Has anyone read the bit in PBO this month? They had prob's getting rid of theirs as well, along with a rather cocky attitude.

Mad isn't it?

AJ

 

[Skyva_2]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

Must agree. Walk up to Brixham Coastguard, hand over box of flares, thank you, job done. The police have never taken flares, AFAIK.

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

[ QUOTE ]
....The problem I have is I run seven boats, as part of a sailing school. I have loads of out of date flares ready to be handed over....

[/ QUOTE ]
When you buy your new ones tell the chandler/supplier that the order is conditional on them taking the out of date ones back - they should have a process in place to return them to the manufacturer.

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Flares, who can collect them?

[ QUOTE ]
...The police have never taken flares, AFAIK.

[/ QUOTE ]
A police station should have facility to store small explosives/ammunition until collected by Ordnance Disposal. It is still not unheard of for people to walk in with hand grenades/munitions that have been kept as souvenirs and found in the shed after Uncle Bertie has died or during house clearances.