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Christmas and end-of-year celebrations: the sale of fireworks mortars under close surveillance
To prevent the use of firecrackers and fireworks on New Year’s Eve, the Interior Ministry has requested increased controls on shopping sites and networks. Border controls will also be strengthened. – (France 2)
To prevent the use of firecrackers and fireworks on New Year’s Eve, the Interior Ministry has requested increased controls on shopping sites and networks. Border controls will also be strengthened.
Fireworks mortars, used against the police, during the end-of-year celebrations. This is Gérald Darmanin’s fear. Foreclosures are exploding. 150,000 over the whole of 2022, 200,000 over the first eight months of 2023, due to the riots last July. So, the Ministry of the Interior asks prefects to strengthen controls on online sites and social networks. Also verifying compliance with the rules by traders, such as the origin of the products. But in fact, it is easy to obtain mortars on the Internet, as we tested on an encrypted network.
Reinforced border controls
Another difficulty is sales in border areas, in Germany or Belgium. In a Belgian store, there are 40% French customers. Prices are lower and regulations less severe. In France, next week, the prefects will, like last year, issue orders to prohibit the sale and transport. Rules which are not imposed in Belgium. “We will undoubtedly have additional customers if a prefectural decree is issued”, underlines Delphine Gora, manager of a fireworks store. The ministry also indicates that border controls will be strengthened next week.
