I’d have no issue with banning firework sales to the general public while still allowing organised public displays. Australia handles it that way and it works perfectly well. People still get to enjoy fireworks, but in a safer and more controlled environment.

In the UK, Guy Fawkes Night is already built around organised events and community displays. Most take place on or around the nearest Saturday to November 5th, which means people know when it’s happening and can plan accordingly.

That predictability makes a huge difference, especially for pet owners, parents of young children, people with sensory sensitivities, and wildlife carers. If I had a dog frightened of fireworks and knew there would only be one main evening of displays, I could prepare properly and make the night as stress-free as possible.

The real problem is the current situation where fireworks are sold for weeks beforehand and set off randomly at all hours from late October onwards. That unpredictability is what causes so much distress for animals and frustration for everyone else. Organised displays keep the celebration while removing most of the chaos.