Specially trained officers will be deployed across Scotland to combat Bonfire Night disorder a year after violent scenes unfolded in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Police Scotland has 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.
Four people, including a police officer, were taken to hospital in Glasgow following a “mass brawl” in the Barmulloch area.
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.
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 works 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.”
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