Swinney says fireworks licensing paused as MSP warns of ‘Bonfire Night war zone’

John Swinney has confirmed a fireworks licensing scheme has been paused as he was warned communities are dealing with an “annual Bonfire Night war zone”.

Speaking during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Edinburgh Eastern MSP Ash Regan asked Mr Swinney why the Scottish Government had “abandoned key provisions” of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

Mr Swinney confirmed the proposed licensing system has been “paused” but said other provisions within the Act have been brought in.

The licensing scheme would have required people to obtain a permit in order to buy pyrotechnics in Scotland.

He said: “The majority of the Act has been implemented, including support for local authorities to implement firework control zones to tackle hotspots where disorder has been experienced.

“We’ve also introduced new offences for providing fireworks or pyrotechnics to children and using fireworks to attack emergency workers.

“The licensing system has been paused due to the cost of introducing it at present, but that will be kept under review.

“Anyone taking part in illegal activity or disorder can expect a robust response from Police Scotland, as demonstrated by the recent major seizures of fireworks.”

Ms Regan, who now sits as an independent MSP after recently quitting Alba, called on the Government to implement the licensing system as she said firework control zones do not work without controls on purchasing.

She said: “This Parliament passed that law to protect both the public and our emergency services over three years ago, and four Bonfire Nights since this law was enacted constituents and emergency services that I worked with to bring this law remain at their wits end.

“With respect to the First Minister, I say that firework control zones do not work without control on purchasing as well.”

Ms Regan acknowledged only the UK Government could implement a ban on fireworks, but said consultation on the Act saw one of the biggest public responses of the Scottish Parliament.

Bonfire Night has in recent years seen repeated disorder and anti-social behaviour in some parts of Scotland.

A tonne of fireworks worth around £42,000 that police believe was on its way to Edinburgh was seized by officers this week.

Police Scotland said more than 60 people were reported for involvement in fireworks offences last year, and this year officers including those in the Tayside and Edinburgh areas will be equipped with body-worn video cameras.

Ms Regan said communities on the “front line” are dealing with an “annual Bonfire Night war zone” and are concerned in the lead-up to next week’s celebrations.

“For those communities on the front line, mine is one of them, this has become an annual Bonfire Night war zone in constituencies across Scotland and I think they deserve for Scotland to use all the powers that we have available to us to help them.

“These communities are now bracing for impact. Firefighters, police and paramedics are continuously putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public and they deserve more than warm words, they deserve the delivery of the law. “