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Minister to meet son over firework death petition

FAMILY HANDOUT Mrs Smith is looking into the camera with a wide smile on her face. She has black hair and is wearing red lipstick.FAMILY HANDOUT
A lit firework was stuffed through the letterbox of Josephine Smith's Romford home

The case of an elderly woman killed by a fire caused by youths stuffing a lit firework through her letterbox has been raised in Parliament.

Josephine Smith, 88, died in October 2021 after the pair of teenagers bought the fireworks from a high street shop "on a whim".

Mrs Smith's son Alan started a petition - arguing the government should put the welfare of vulnerable people first - which garnered more than 78,000 signatures in a month.

Mr Smith will also meet the minister responsible for firework regulation, Justin Madders.

UK PARLIAMENT A parliamentary photo portrait of Mr Madders. He has short brown hair and is staring into the camera, and is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and purple tie. UK PARLIAMENT
Minister Justin Madders confirmed he would meet Mr Smith in the new year

Kai Cooper, 18, from Leatherhead, Surrey, and Callum Dunne, 15, from Southend, Essex, were detained last year for Mrs Smith's manslaughter.

They had thrown fireworks at passing cars and into shop doorways before they targeted her house.

Mr Smith's petition on the parliament website said improved regulations on the sale and use of fireworks were backed by a wide range of MPs, charities and organisations and has "huge" public support.

It reads: "The distress and trauma caused is very well known to the medical profession, emergency services, human and animal welfare groups and the government.

"We are asking the new government not to ignore the problem. It's time to put the welfare of the vulnerable first."

UK PARLIAMENT A parliamentary photo portrait of Mrs Lopez. She looking into the camera and has long blonde hair and is wearing a dark blue dress. UK PARLIAMENT
Julia Lopez, Mrs Smith's local MP, raised her death in Parliament

Julia Lopez, Mrs Smith's local MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, also spoke in the debate.

"The fireworks used to take Josephine's life were bought on a whim on a local high street.

"Alan asks whether a more robust licence requirement might have prevented her death."

Lopez added: "Fireworks can be bought easily on the high street. It was an impulse that resulted in Josephine's death - so do regulations around high street sale need to change?"

She suggested it was the right time to consider the issue in an attempt to avoid "future tragedies".

Madders, the parliamentary undersecretary for business and trade, confirmed he would meet Lopez and Mr Smith in the new year to engage "in a sensible and respectful way".

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