Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Possession of fireworks, flares, etc. N.I.

39—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if P has an article or substance to which this section applies in P's possession—

(a) at any time during the period of a regulated match when P is in any area of the ground from which the match may be directly viewed, or

(b) while entering or trying to enter the ground at any time during the period of a regulated match at the ground.

(2) It is a defence for P to prove that P had possession with lawful authority.

(3) This section applies to any article—

(a) which is a firework; or

(b) which is an article or substance whose main purpose is the emission of a flare for purposes of illuminating or signalling (as opposed to igniting or heating) or the emission of smoke or a visible gas;

and in particular it applies to distress flares, fog signals, and pellets and capsules intended to be used as fumigators or for testing pipes, but not to matches, cigarette lighters or heaters.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.