Bolton Shop Fireworks Seized: Owner Taken to Court Over Licence 2026

Key Points

• Fireworks were confiscated from Wise Buys in Bury Road, Bolton, after it was found that there were being stored and sold without appropriate explosives licensing procedures.
• Said Shiragha Hashimi of Nevada Street, Manchester was charged after Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) inspections found fireworks at the Bolton store.
• Hashimi had taken over the ownership of the store in 2023 but failed to obtain an explosives license under his name.
• It was found that the fireworks stored were done in conditions not meeting the necessary requirements, such as Hazard Type 3 (HT3) fireworks in premises having living quarters above them.
• Hashimi was mandated to serve 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and was given a curfew of three months.
• Costs for prosecution were awarded to be £4,281.82 and a victim surcharge of £114.
• The confiscated fireworks were ordered to be destroyed.
• The prosecution was filed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority who license explosives storage across the city region.
• This is one of the three separate fireworks prosecutions in Greater Manchester that involved retailers and distributors.
• GMFRS said the main fireworks sale season starts from October 15.

Bolton (Manchester Mirror) October 15, 2026 — The owner of a Bolton discount store has been sentenced after fireworks were found being stored and sold at the shop without the required explosives licence in his own name, according to reporting by The Oldham Times on a Greater Manchester fireworks enforcement operation.

Said Shiragha Hashimi, of Nevada Street, Manchester, was sentenced after inspectors from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service found fireworks being stored and sold at Wise Buys on Bury Road, Bolton. As reported by The Oldham Times, Hashimi took over the business in 2023 but did not apply for an explosives licence in his own name.

Inspectors found fireworks in conditions that did not meet legal requirements. The stock included HT3 fireworks, which were being kept at premises with residential accommodation above, according to The Oldham Times.

The court ordered that the fireworks seized from the Bolton shop be destroyed. Hashimi was also ordered to complete 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, involving targeted programmes, and given a three-month curfew.

The court awarded prosecution costs of £4,281.82 and a victim surcharge of £114, The Oldham Times reported.

What Did Inspectors Find at Wise Buys?

GMFRS inspectors found fireworks being stored and sold at Wise Buys on Bury Road, Bolton. The case concerned storage and sale arrangements that did not meet explosives licensing requirements.

The Oldham Times reported that the fireworks found at the shop included HT3 fireworks. GMFRS says HT3 fireworks carry a greater fire, blast and projectile risk than HT4 retail fireworks and are subject to stricter storage requirements.

Inspectors also found the fireworks were stored in conditions that did not meet requirements, including at premises with residential accommodation above. The stock was subsequently seized and ordered to be destroyed.

Who Is Said Shiragha Hashimi?

Said Shiragha Hashimi, of Nevada Street, Manchester, was identified by The Oldham Times as the person sentenced in connection with the Wise Buys case. He took over the Bolton business in 2023.

According to the report, Hashimi did not apply for an explosives licence in his own name after taking over the shop. The prosecution concerned the storage and sale of fireworks without the required licensing arrangements.

The sentence imposed included 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a three-month curfew. Hashimi was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £4,281.82 and a victim surcharge of £114.

Why Were the Fireworks Seized?

The fireworks were seized because inspectors found them being stored and sold in breach of explosives requirements. The case was brought by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which licenses the storage of explosives, including fireworks, across Greater Manchester.

The Oldham Times reported that the fireworks were found in conditions that did not meet requirements. The presence of HT3 fireworks at a premises with residential accommodation above was among the concerns identified by inspectors.

GMFRS said fireworks are explosives and that storage rules exist to protect businesses, residents, customers and the wider public. The service said businesses storing, supplying or selling fireworks must have the correct licences and follow explosives legislation.

What Sentence Did the Bolton Shop Owner Receive?

Hashimi was ordered to complete 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, involving targeted programmes. He was also given a three-month curfew.

The court awarded prosecution costs of £4,281.82 and a victim surcharge of £114. The seized fireworks were ordered to be destroyed.

The Oldham Times did not report a prison sentence or fine in relation to Hashimi’s case. The reporting instead identified the Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, curfew, costs and surcharge as the penalties imposed.

How Does This Case Fit Into a Wider Crackdown?

The Wise Buys prosecution was one of three separate cases involving Greater Manchester fireworks offences, according to The Oldham Times. The other cases involved an Oldham retailer and Boom Fireworks Limited, which operates distribution premises in Rochdale and Cheetham Hill.

In the Oldham case, Shabaz Ali Abbas, of Broomhurst Avenue, was sentenced after inspectors found fireworks at The Vape Store on Hollins Road, which he owns. His explosives licence had expired on October 31, 2024, but fireworks, including HT3 fireworks, were still being stored when specialist fire safety inspectors visited on November 2, 2024.

Abbas was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete a 10-day community order. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £4,162.11 and a victim surcharge of £187, while the seized fireworks were ordered to be destroyed.

In the third case, Boom Fireworks Limited was prosecuted after GMFRS inspectors found about 200kg of HT3 fireworks stored in breach of licensing requirements. Director Hashum Malik pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on October 6 to offences involving the storage of fireworks.

The company was fined £40,000 and given a £2,000 surcharge. It must also pay prosecution costs of £3,482.16, bringing the total to £45,485.16, according to The Oldham Times.

What Have Authorities Said?

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, said fireworks are enjoyed by many people across Greater Manchester at this time of year, but safe storage is essential to protecting the public, businesses and property.

“These prosecutions demonstrate that we will take robust action against anyone who fails to store, supply or sell fireworks safely and legally,” Green said, as reported by The Oldham Times.

Karl Gibbons, Head of Protection at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said fireworks are explosives and the rules governing their storage exist to protect businesses, residents, customers and the wider public.

“These prosecutions involve both a national distributor and local retailers, but the message is the same regardless of the size of the business,”

Gibbons said, according to The Oldham Times.

GMFRS said the prosecutions form part of its wider work to improve fireworks safety across the city region. The service said its campaign works with businesses, partners and communities to raise awareness of firework risks and promote lawful storage, sale and use.

Background of the Development

The case arises from enforcement action by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and GMFRS concerning the licensing and safe storage of explosives, including fireworks. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority licenses explosives storage across the city-region, while GMFRS carries out inspection and protection work relating to fire safety.

The Wise Buys matter was reported alongside two other prosecutions: one involving The Vape Store in Oldham and another involving Boom Fireworks Limited, a distributor with premises in Rochdale and Cheetham Hill. The Oldham Times reported that the cases involved both local retailers and a national distributor.

GMFRS highlighted that HT3 fireworks have stricter storage requirements than HT4 retail fireworks because they present greater fire, blast and projectile risks. The service also reminded businesses that the main fireworks sales period begins on October 15 and that failure to comply can result in enforcement action, including prosecution.

Prediction: What It Means for Bolton Retailers and Residents

For Bolton retailers, the case is likely to increase attention on fireworks licensing, stock records, storage conditions and the separation of fireworks from residential accommodation. Businesses planning to store, supply or sell fireworks during the main sales period may face closer scrutiny from GMFRS and licensing authorities.

For residents living above or near shops selling fireworks, the enforcement action highlights the safety concerns associated with unsuitable storage, particularly where HT3 fireworks are involved. GMFRS says its rules are intended to protect residents, customers, businesses and the wider public.

For customers, the development may lead to fewer outlets selling fireworks if retailers decide that licensing and storage requirements are too demanding. GMFRS has said it will continue working with businesses, partners and communities to promote lawful storage, sale and use of fireworks.