Trader found guilty of selling fireworks to underage Slough teenager
A Slough retailer has been fined and told to pay court costs for selling fireworks to a 14 year old.
Fireworks are dangerous in young handsParamjit Singh Gill of Gills off licence on Stoke Poges Lane was fined £250 plus £776 costs for failing to comply with firework safety regulations. He pleaded guilty at Maidenhead Magistrates Court on 21st December.
The fireworks were sold to the 14 year old during a routine test purchase operation, carried out by Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team in November 2006.
Keith Eaglestone, head of Slough trading standards at the council, said: “Every year we hand deliver an educational pack to all traders in the borough where there are age restricted products on sale.
“The pack sets out the legal requirements and indicates what steps should be taken to avoid under age sales of fireworks, alcohol, cigarettes and solvents.
“Despite this, some traders seem to put profit before the safety of school children and flout the law.”
Cllr John Edwards, commissioner for public protection, said: “I am very pleased with this successful prosecution as it shows that Slough is no soft touch for underage sales.
“It is one of our priorities that we continue to make Slough a safer place to live, and we will not tolerate any traders who break the law, particularly when dangerous items such as fireworks get into the wrong hands.
“It is also really encouraging to see that the majority of traders we visit in our test purchasing exercises are well aware of the law, and continue to ask for ID if they are not sure of the age of a customer.”
Slough Borough Council