Police reveal Edinburgh 'dispersal zones' amid fears of Bonfire Night violence

Police Scotland have revealed “dispersal zones” in Edinburgh amid fears of violence ahead of Bonfire Night.

Specially trained officers will be deployed across Scotland to combat disorder a year after violent scenes unfolded in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Police have partnered with Crimestoppers and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as part of Operation Moonbeam, an initiative aimed at deterring the criminal use of fireworks.

It comes after 62 officers sustained a range of injuries after being struck by or in the proximity of fireworks in incidents across Scotland last year.

Dispersal Zones for police have been set up across Edinburgh ahead of Bonfire Night. Police Scotland

As part of Operation Crackle, officers in Edinburgh have revealed the city’s dispersal zones, which will be enforceable from 2pm on Friday, November 1, to midnight on November 5.

These will be in place in Gorgie, Saughton, Oxgangs, Liberton, Gilmerton, Gracemount, Portobello, Niddrie, Moredun, Muirhouse, Craigentinny, Pilton, and the city centre.

When the zones are in place, officers can order groups to disperse, leave the area unless they live there, and stop them from returning for a period of time.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We use this power where we have reasonable grounds to believe that the presence or behaviour of a group of two or more people in any public place is causing, or likely to cause, alarm or distress to any members of the public.

“If you knowingly contravene a direction given by an officer within a Dispersal Zone under these powers, you can be subject to an arrest without warrant.”

Guy Fawkes: Incidents of violence

Four people, including a police officer, were taken to hospital in Glasgow following a “mass brawl” in the Barmulloch area last year.

Meanwhile, firefighters were bombarded with fireworks and bricks in nine attacks during an eight-hour period on Bonfire Night.

Around 100 youths gathered on Hay Avenue in Niddrie, Edinburgh, on November 5, 2023, in a repeat of the disorder seen in the same neighbourhood in 2022.

Tim Mairns, assistant chief constable at Police Scotland, spoke to STV News about the “unacceptable level of hostility and violence” seen across the country last year.

“Sadly, what we saw last year were individuals acting criminally, targeting communities and targeting emergency service workers, and that was really unacceptable,” he said.

“We took a robust approach to the last year. The message we want to send this year is we’re prepared for that.”

Mr Mairns added that Police Scotland has worked with communities and partners to educate people on the harm fireworks can cause.

“This horrific behaviour jeopardised the safety and wellbeing of those who were trying to keep communities safe,” he said.

“Significant investigation was undertaken in the weeks and months that followed, and numerous people were charged in connection with these incidents.”

Mr Mairns also addressed the fact that a number of officers were unhappy with the protection provided to them while dealing with the violence.

It is understood that the force bought around 10,000 sets of sound suppressors designed to protect against noise-induced hearing loss before the outbreak of violence.

However, the suppressors were not issued to officers prior to Operation Moonbeam due to testing issues.

Officers claim that the force failed to provide them with adequate ear protection despite having the equipment, leading to multiple injuries.

The assistant constable said the force had learned from 2023 and 2022, adding that new equipment that has become available and will be available to officers to protect their hearing when close to loud noises such as fireworks.

Minister for Victims and Community Safety Scotland, Siobhan Brown, said: “Our emergency service workers do such a vital job.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility that if you do know of any activity that could cause harm please report it.”