COUNTY fire chiefs have welcomed a nationwide investigation into the safety of childrens fancy dress costumes.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid has announced Trading Standards inspectors will carry out spot checks at hundreds of retailers across the UK to make sure childrens fancy dress costumes they’re selling are safe.
Under current safety standards fancy dress costumes are treated as toys and so do not have to be tested in the same rigourous way in which children’s clothes are.
An investigation on the BBC’s ‘Watchdog’ programme showed just how rapidly a fancy dress costume can burn, resulting in serious consequences.
Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates said: “As a Fire Officer and father of a 4 year old daughter, I 100 per cent agree with CFOA’s position on this matter and strongly believe that fancy dress costumes should meet the same safety standards as children’s nightclothes and not be classified as toys.
“Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service fully support this nationwide review which we hope will lead to tougher standards which will ultimately protect our children,” he added.
The Chief Fire Officers Association is calling for children’s fancy dress costumes to meet the same standards as children’s nightclothes.
European safety standards are also being reviewed by the government by working with the British Standards Institute to see if they’re tough enough.
Area Commander Mark Preece, who is Head of Community Risk, added: “With Halloween fast approaching, we’d advise parents to take extra care, stay vigilant and ensure that youngsters do not go anywhere near naked flames.”
