Interior Minister against general ban on firecrackers
Around a month before New Year's Eve, Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens has spoken out against a general ban on fireworks. "I am concerned to see that thousands of people are injured by fireworks every year, which means that the emergency services and police are always very busy at the turn of the year," the SPD politician told the German Press Agency. In addition, firecrackers played an inglorious role in the New Year's Eve riots last year. "However, it is also true that the overwhelming majority of citizens use fireworks peacefully and responsibly on New Year's Eve," said Behrens.
It is also questionable whether a ban would affect the rioters at all, because they often use banned fireworks anyway. "I therefore believe that the establishment of firework ban zones by the local authorities, particularly by the larger cities in Lower Saxony, would be more effective," said Behrens. The police would consistently enforce compliance with these bans on New Year's Eve.
Last New Year's Eve, the police in Lower Saxony were called out to 3245 incidents. In the process, 34 attacks on members of the police, fire department and rescue services were recorded.
The environmental organization Umwelthilfe and the police union GdP, among others, are campaigning for a nationwide ban on firecrackers. They point to the number of people injured on New Year's Eve, the expense for the emergency services, pollutants in the air and panic among animals. According to Umwelthilfe, more than 166,000 people have already signed an open letter calling for a "firecracker-free New Year's Eve".
"In view of the enormous production of pollutants, the accumulation of waste, the high risk of accidents, the stress for many people and animals and, last but not least, the attacks on security forces last year, we are calling for centrally organized fireworks displays, as is common practice in many other countries," said the GdP Lower Saxony.
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe explained that fireworks bans are worth considering in terms of the environment and animal welfare. However, accidents involving fireworks account for a rather small proportion of rescue operations on New Year's Eve. "Uninhibited consumption of alcohol is still the main cause here," said Johanniter.
The State Association of Private Rescue Services in Northern Germany (LPR Nord) rejects a general ban on fireworks. In certain areas, such as conurbations, a ban on pyrotechnics is considered appropriate. However, a general ban would also affect those who celebrate the New Year's Eve tradition peacefully.
According to a survey, the majority of people in Germany have a negative view of fireworks at the turn of the year. One in three people (34%) is a staunch opponent of fireworks, according to a survey conducted by the YouGov opinion research institute on behalf of the German Press Agency. A further 19 percent said that they "rather dislike" firecrackers and rockets. In contrast, 14 percent are "completely in favor" of traditional New Year's Eve fireworks.
Despite the concerns over injuries and New Year's Eve riots, Behrens advocates for targeted firework ban zones instead of a general ban, acknowledging the peaceful use of fireworks by the majority of the population. Moreover, customs during Holidays often include the use of fireworks, making it a significant part of many traditions, including the turn of the year and New Year's Eve celebrations.
Source: www.dpa.com
