Impact of fireworks on animals

2025.11.11

2.2   Deputy M.B. Andrews of St. Helier North of the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs regarding the impact on animals of the use of fireworks (OQ.241/2025):

Will the Minister advise what assessment, if any, has been undertaken of the impact on animals of the use of fireworks and whether any consideration has been, or will be, given to lodging amendments to the Explosives (Jersey) Law 1970 to restrict or to change the use of fireworks to reduce any such impact?

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat of St. Helier North (The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs):

I thank the Deputy for the question. When it became evident that I was going to be unable to actually bring any changes to the regulations in relation to pyrotechnics, I took it upon myself to meet with members of the community. I am not an animal expert, even though I have been brought up with animals and I still have dogs. So I spoke to people in the community who do have a variety of animals, alongside I have had some correspondence with vets as well. I, like the Deputy , do have concerns in relation to animals and fireworks. However, I would also like to say that this is not only an impact on animals, but this has a significant impact on our community as a whole, because there are people that have an impact with fireworks, not just animals.

1. Deputy M.B. Andrews :

I would really like to know what action is going to be taken before the Minister’s term of office ends? Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

As I have explained to the Deputy , as it became apparent that I had no facility or no capacity to be able to look at this as a piece of legislation due to the 5 pieces of legislation under the violence against women and girls, child detention, police complaints framework, modernisation of precautions arrangements for tall buildings post-Grenfell Tower, post-custodial arrangements, et cetera. So all of those pieces of legislation are well in train and will be completed by the end of this term of office. It is not possible, even though I would like to have been able to do something more in relation to this piece of legislation as well as fireworks, it has not been possible. I did intend, and I probably will in the next 6 months, have some conversation with a member of the Comité des Connétable because I would like to start talking to them about the possibilities.

2. Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf of St. Saviour :

I wonder whether the Minister would be kind enough to agree with the fact that there is currently a well- established voluntary arrangement where somebody is having a firework display, that they go around and they visit the individuals, and particularly horse owners, that may be affected. Would she at least undertake to request that the Constables send out messages, which I know maybe they do. The St. Saviour situation was clear. I received 2 visits from individuals asking whether or not I objected to a firework display. I discussed it and said about horses. Would she agree that there are some informal routes that may well be able to be made in advance of a legislative change if necessary? Would she undertake to advance that with the Constables?

Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat :

That is exactly what I had considered in relation to speaking to the Comité des Connétable s. This is a fairly complex situation. Obviously, not only have I spoken to animal owners and those that actually look after animals, but I have also spoken to the organisers of fireworks as well. This is something that will need to be done. But of course, it is also not as simple as the notification, because you cannot be in a position where you are going to potentially sedate animals on a regular basis as to the number of firework displays that now are beyond what is 5th November.