Police to work with youth to curb violent disorder on future bonfire nights

Police Scotland will continue to work with young people to stamp out violent disorder on Bonfire Night, a senior officer has pledged, after firefighters were “bombarded” with fireworks.

Assistant chief constable Tim Mairs said there was “significant disorder” on Tuesday November 5, with police and firefighters targeted with fireworks, bricks and bottles.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it received more than 1,000 calls from the public during an eight-hour period on Bonfire Night while police responded to 18 incidents.

Police said that between Thursday October 31 and Wednesday November 6, a total of 19 arrests have been made throughout Scotland in connection with firework offences, with further arrests expected in the coming days

Six people have been charged under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles Act, while a further 26 charges have been brought against individuals for associated criminality.

Mr Mairs said that while there was a reduction in disorder when compared with 2023, Police Scotland will continue to work alongside young people and children to help quash the issue all together.

He told the PA news agency: “It’s really about working with our children and young people to give them positive opportunities moving forward, and that’s really where the partnership is, where the operation is at the heart of our policing approach.

“So today, in these affected areas, police officers and local authorities are sitting down at the table to talk about what we saw last night and will continue the work that’s been ongoing.

“This is a journey – it’s not something that we can police our way out of –  but I’m encouraged to continue to invest in our positive opportunities to support them so that we will see this continue to reduce as an issue, hereon.”

Police Scotland said it responded to 18 incidents on Tuesday evening as part of Operation Moonbeam, which aims to deal with Bonfire Night disorder, down from 26 in 2023.

A total of 62 officers were injured last year, but Mr Mairs said there was a significant fall in the number of police hurt this year.

He said: “I’m encouraged by the fact that we did see a reduction in the level of disorder and the number of injuries to police officers, but I am still concerned that in parts of Glasgow, we still saw extensive misuse of fireworks, the attacking of members of the community, police officers and, indeed, our colleagues in the fire service.”

He said the work for next year’s Operation Moonbeam “starts today”, with the force aiming to arrest any offenders in the near-future.

SFRS said as well as two incidents of fire appliances being attacked in Edinburgh, there were three attacks in Clydebank and one in Blackridge, West Lothian.

Initial figures indicate that crews responded to approximately 347 bonfires and 598 incidents across the country between 3.30pm and 11.30pm on November 5.

Andy Watt, SFRS deputy chief officer, said: “Operations control firefighters answered over 1,000 calls tonight and have once again worked tirelessly to ensure we respond to those who need us the most.”

He added: “Crews were bombarded with missiles and fireworks while responding to emergency incidents.

“These attacks prevent our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion, and can impact on our emergency service colleagues – including the police when they must escort us at the scene.”

The Pollokshields area of Glasgow was originally meant to have a firework control zone in place between November 1 and 10.

However, this did not go ahead as Glasgow City Council did not issue the legal notice needed to create the zone in enough time.

Anti-fireworks campaigner, and Pollokshields resident, Danny Phillips branded it an “incompetent blunder”.

He said: “It’s difficult to express how angry and frustrated people in Pollokshields are, after some of the worst firework disorder for years last night.

“We warned them that this would happen again. The city council’s incompetent blunder, failing to implement our no firework zone, has had a very heavy cost.

“Large groups of hooded young men gave the police the run around until 2am, while firing large industrial sized fireworks at buildings, cars, people and emergency services, and setting fire to public property. Meanwhile, residents were stuck in their homes. It’s not acceptable.”

Glasgow City Council previously apologised for not having a control zone in place, saying: “We are very sorry that the firework control zone for Pollokshields cannot go ahead as we had hoped for this year’s Bonfire Night.

“The legal notice needed to create the zone was not issued in enough time to ensure it can come into effect as planned for between November 1 and November 10.”

First Minister John Swinney said it is important to recognise that incidents of disorder were down from the previous year.

He told journalists on Wednesday: “We need to obviously consider the implications of incidents such as last night to determine whether we have all the correct measures in place – and we will of course do that.”

Police have set up a Major Incident Public Portal, where communities can share video and photo evidence of Bonfire Night offences taking place in their area.

Anyone with footage that can assist officers in identifying people involved in fireworks-related crime can submit it to https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT24S16-PO1.