24 replies to this topic

[pyrotechnist]

Our government are pathetic and useless god I wish people would fight against them and their unwise decisions that are corrupt. Is all the government are good at is sleeping, talking shit and taking our money oh and spending it on themselves lol. Now we are stuck in the EU thanks to our shitty government bringing us apart of it without anyone's consent in the first place which will most likely make our life's worse.

[Creepin_pyro]

nt

Edited by Creepin_pyro, 15 November 2009 - 12:15 PM.

[Karl Mitchell-Shead]

Hi Guys,

I am very familiar with this story, well it is me in the picture afterall.

Thus far have not heard a thing from HSE who are doing whatever it is they do.

There was no 'police counter terrorist unit', they visited my parents home first to which i phoned the trading standards guy and invited him around to take a look, complete jobsworth, as was his assistant neither had a clue, police who said they 'had to be there' had no interest in what was going on and the fire inspector was more interested in talking shooting!

Not what the media made it out to be, had to have my say or there would have been a picture of a HSE employee holding a bundle of rockets!

Dust has as good as settled, over a month now and still nothing from HSE assuming they are not taking it overly seriously i think im in the clear.

I want my equipment back though, ~ £350 worth taken! What are my chances?

Karl

[phildunford]

Well as you clearly have done nothing wrong, I think you should have your equipment back.

If they don't, I would be inclined to sue - now that would make a good story for the papers.

[Mortartube]

Personally I agree with Phil. Insist upon the return of all of your equipment as it's not illegal to posses anything they took by the sounds of the description. Did the police take any mixed comps or manufactured devices? If you had less than 100g of comp you can quote MSER (the up to 100g rule). If you had over 100g or/and manufactured devices, you may be on shaky ground.

I hope the police gave you a receipt for the items they took.

Edited by Mortartube, 15 November 2009 - 02:46 PM.

[Karl Mitchell-Shead]

I had NO mixed compositions bar probably 75g of various microstars.

NO devices, just visco, half a dozen shell cases, few tubes, containers and a bundle of Cat3 rockets along with spatula's, a crucible, mortar and pestle, glue gun etc.

The only chems discovered and seized were:

Potassium nitrate 1300g
Sulphur 450g
Magnesium Ribbon
SUGAR!!!
IronIIIOxide 750g
and about 50g of eckhart

They even took away half of a 50mm shellcake carcass and the wallpaper pasting table i used!

I believe HSE have it all but how do i go about getting it returned?

[Karl Mitchell-Shead]

Trading standards issued no receipt for what they seized

[Mortartube]

I would suggest that you contact the Trading Standards office that siezed the stuff. Ask them who has it now and tell them that you want it returned or replaced as they siezed it illegally. You were perfectly within the law. It is not illegal to possess the stuff siezed and you were within MSER.

Stress that you will take legal action against them if your stuff is not returned as they exceeded their powers to sieze goods that it was legal for you to have and use in the way that you were using them. Also get hold of the relevant 100g part of MSER. You said they hadn't a clue about the things they siezed so you can show them the LAW in black and white.

Ask for a receipt now for the goods. If they decline ask for an itinerary of the items siezed. Because I bet they won't have one and this will show them up to be shoddy in their working practices. If you can cast doubt on their competence all well and good.

If you have any notes regarding testing and performance of various comps, copy them and give them to the Trading Standards proving that you were pursuing research and development.

Stress at all times that you were working within the law as set out in MSER and they have no power to prevent you pursuing a legal pastime.

You may have to push the point a few times. But remain calm, non confrontational and after an initial phone call to find out where your stuff is, put everything in writing and keep copies.

[Atom Fireworks]

Glad to see Cheif ( karl) is on the ukps and that his story can be heard, Its interesting that the police seized items and left you with no reciept i had a motocross bike seized a few years back and got a receipt and when it turned out to be not stolen i got it back.

I recently had some lets say ''issues''with a family member and the police where called, whilst they were their i asked them about the law on it and they didnt have a clue as to what we can and cannot do, the officer said '' if theres no complaints why would we come nocking'' now theres a statement that to me makes allot of sense, keep your neighbours unnaware of your night time escapades and this alone will prevent any complications.

Karl you have done nothing wrong and i hope you get your stuff back, just when you do any firing of home made pyro do it somewhere that no one will bother you and then you wont get any bother off the law.

[Gary]

Our government are pathetic and useless god I wish people would fight against them and their unwise decisions that are corrupt. Is all the government are good at is sleeping, talking shit and taking our money oh and spending it on themselves lol. Now we are stuck in the EU thanks to our shitty government bringing us apart of it without anyone's consent in the first place which will most likely make our life's worse.

I'm afraid that the EU totalitarian, Socialist superstate (EUSSR, I mean) will only lead to more erosion of our personal freedoms and rights.
The only way we can get out of the EU is to vote for a anti-EU party (and there is only ONE genuinely anti-EU party!) during the next GE.
I too dislike this oppressive Health and Safety Nanny State. Of course, health and Safety is very important, but what happened to Common Sense? For example, chemistry sets these days contain nothing more harmful than dyed sugar and plastic models of molecules! What experiments can practically be done with that? A few years ago (well, when I was about 15 years old) they contained many interesting (and moderately hazardous) chemicals, along with clear safety warnings. It was the responsibility of the user to heed the warnings and avoid injuring themselves or others by misuse of the chemicals. Nowadays, we need to be protected from danger by authorities who think they know what's good for us. We might aswell live inside hermetically sealed plastic bubbles!
It is not easy being a amateur chemistry or pyro enthusiast these days; thanks to the sensationalistic media the general public are so paranoid and 'chemophobic' that if you happen to enjoy experimental chemistry (amateur chemistry) or pyro as a hobby, then as far as they are concerned, you are 'up to no good'.