Firework safety appeal pays off
A community stand against firework thugs in Blackburn has paid off after months of hard work by local people, the emergency services and West Lothian Council.
Encouraged by an action group set up earlier in the year dozens called the Crimestoppers hotline to report illegality around fireworks.
“Be Fearless” the leaflets had urged people about report firework misuse. More than 30 separate reports from the village helped douse the bad behaviour that has marred previous bonfire nights.
Michelle Kirkbright, a community regeneration officer with the council, has been working with the community since April when the Blackburn Bonfire Night Action Group (BBNAG) was set up after a run of past disturbances.
She told the council’s Whitburn and Blackburn Local Area Committee ( LAC) that many in the village had felt reporting to Crimestoppers was not worth it, because nothing would get done.
However, the message that Crimestoppers was totally anonymous was reinforced through redesigned leaflets ahead of bonfire night.
Ms Kirkbright said that a concerted campaign to hit home the safety message seems to have got through.
She added: “We really heavily promoted Crimestoppers and this year they received 35 intelligence reports of people illegally selling fireworks or storing fireworks.
“People actually felt empowered to report.” The action group also organised diversionary events for children and teens.
Ms Kirkbright said there had been no firework attacks on fire service crews, and two incidents outside the event at the partnership centre were quickly handled by the police .
“There was a significant reduction in incidents,” she added.
A report to the LAC said: “The success of the community development and community engagement work that was carried out needs to be noted as a considerable factor in empowering the community to not only report potential illegal activity but to also join forces with services proving that a proactive approach to reduce Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is the way forward.”
The Action Group project will be fully evaluated early next year but its success means it has now been established as an ongoing community effort.
Councillor George Paul, chairing the meeting, said he would look forward to seeing next year’s results after the success of the scheme.
Councillor Kirsteen Sullivan said there had been “a sea change in the way people are looking at things in Blackburn” and she congratulated everyone involved in the success.
“A huge well done,” she added.
She also thanked police and fire service for attending her surgeries to give advice and information in the run up to November 5.
Councillor Bruce Fairbairn said: “I think there has been a lot of comment on the bad press Blackburn has had and I would hope the LAC would encourage the press to support this good news.”