STV NewsPolice Scotland is preparing for its largest officer deployment since US President Donald Trump’s visit to Aberdeenshire ahead of Bonfire Night 2026.
Operation Moonbeam will enable specially trained officers to tackle firework-related violence and disorder across Bonfire Night.
Working alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), the force has said it “absolutely has enough” resources to tackle firework-related crime and anti-social behaviour across the region on Thursday.
Firework Control Zones are in place in parts of Glasgow and Edinburgh, banning the use of fireworks and sparklers in private spaces, such as gardens.
The zones will operate in Edinburgh from October 30 to November 8, and in Glasgow from October 30 to November 9.
They give officers the power to break up groups of two or more people whose behaviour is causing, or likely to cause, alarm or distress, will be in place in some parts of the country.
STV NewsIn addition to more officers, police are also utilising dispersal zones to limit anti-social behaviour, which has plagued some areas of Glasgow in previous years.
They revealed on Tuesday that 20 officers will also be based at ten fire stations across Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire to provide support.
Officers will have the power to direct groups of more than two to leave a certain area and not return for 48 hours.
Leading up to Bonfire Night, police seized more than a quarter of a ton of fireworks in what is believed to be one of the largest recoveries in Scotland.
Officers raided an address in Penilee, Glasgow, on Tuesday following a tip-off from the local community.
STV NewsAround 350kg of fireworks, with a total retail value of £12,000, were found inside. Some of the items seized can fire 600 individual rockets.
The same day, two teenagers were charged after fireworks were thrown in Midlothian on Halloween.
The incident took place on Bonnyrigg’s High Street at around 7.50pm on October 31 and was among 144 firework-related calls which police responded to across Scotland.
Police have charged two male youths with culpable and reckless conduct in connection with the incident.
Investigations are ongoing to trace others involved.
In addition to Bonfire celebrations on Thursday, Glasgow will host a UEFA Europa League match at Celtic Park, while images circulating online suggest planned protests in the city that same night.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Gold Commander for Operation Amberlight, said Police Scotland is “not complacent” ahead of Bonfire Night.
“Bonfire Night remains one of the busiest nights on the calendar for Police Scotland”, he said.
“We are committed to supporting local policing divisions with dedicated nationally coordinated specialist capabilities, and Operation Amberlight builds on what is already in place to further enhance our capability and capacity to respond to the unique challenges we may face on November 5.
“Whilst we have seen improvements in recent years, we are not complacent, and with these additional challenges, our enhanced deployment model we will see largest deployment of police resources since the visit of President Trump.
“As a national service, one of our strengths is our ability to deploy officers where they are needed across the country, supporting local policing teams with specialist capabilities.
“In the face of increasingly more complex demands, we can build on that strength with mutual aid from colleagues in England and Wales to meet the additional demands.
“I thank them for their assistance as we work together to protect the public, reassure communities and respond effectively to incidents.”
Last November, the fire service took 750 calls at control rooms on Bonfire Night and attended more than 250 incidents.
SFRS area commander and head of preparedness, Mark Cleland, said Bonfire Night is always a “significant night” for the fire service, but added that crews are ready.
Mr Cleland said: “For the public and the communities out there, I would say enjoy the night, but please be safe. What we would recommend is for people to attend an organised event if they can.
“For those that are planning on causing antisocial behaviour or disruption, then Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have a zero tolerance approach to any abuse to our staff, and we will work closely with our partners from police to ensure that doesn’t take place.”
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