Police Scotland increases resources to crack down on Bonfire Night disorder

This year’s Operation Moonbeam was officially launched on Friday (October 24) and will once again see public order officers supporting colleagues from local policing divisions to tackle violence and disorder and protect communities from harm.

For the first time officers in Edinburgh will be using body-worn video cameras to capture footage of any disorder around Bonfire Night as Police Scotland’s national roll out of the new devices reaches the half-way point.

Police Scotland says this will improve opportunities to identify those involved in criminal activity during this time, including attacks on police officers and emergency service workers.

In 2024, there was a reduction in the number of serious order incidents across the country and the number of officers injured fell to one, compared with 62 in 2023.

However, Police Scotland said the level of violence directed towards police and other emergency services was still of “significant concern” and additional resource is being provided to support local policing teams dealing with fireworks-related crime.

Operation Moonbeam was first launched in 2018, following serious disorder in various parts of the country, which saw one officer in Edinburgh seriously injured when she was struck by a firework.

Overall, fireworks offences have seen a reduction since this time, but an increased targeting of emergency services has prompted a more robust response to tackling these incidents.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: “Last year, following Bonfire Night, I reflected on what was a successful policing operation that saw a reduction in serious disorder offences and a dramatic reduction in the number of officers injured.

“As part of this year’s campaign, we will shortly be publishing some compelling stories from members of Police Scotland, Lothian Buses and affected communities highlighting the significant impact being involved in, or subject to attacks with fireworks can have.

“However, we still saw unacceptable levels of violence and disorder in parts of Glasgow and Edinburgh, leaving communities in these areas in a state of fear and alarm. This was wholly unacceptable, and we immediately launched a major criminal investigation to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“Over 60 people have been reported for their involvement in fireworks offences over the Bonfire Night period for 2024. I want to make it clear our pursuit of offenders for any crimes this year will be equally unrelenting. If you chose to create fear in your community, and if you chose to attack those who are deployed to keep people safe, you will face justice.

“We will use all available technology, resources and policing tactics at our disposal to keep our people safe while they, in turn work with other emergency service partners to protect the public from harm.”

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown added: “Misuse of fireworks puts communities and emergency services at risk and will not be tolerated. While Police Scotland reported a reduction in serious disorder on Bonfire Night last year, the Scottish government will continue to support the police and courts in taking firm action against those who do break the law.

“We have brought in a number of measures to improve firework safety, including a ban on providing fireworks to under-18s and making attacks on emergency workers using fireworks an aggravating factor that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders.

“We have also provided local authorities with powers to designate firework control zones in local areas and a number of these will be in place this year.

“My thanks go to all the emergency services who have been working hard to ensure a safe Bonfire Night and who will again be on the front line to keep our communities safe.”

Andrew Laing, Deputy Crown Agent for Local Court at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “Those who carry out reckless and dangerous public offending throughout the period of Bonfire Night can expect to be dealt with rigorously by the justice system.

“Those deliberately putting other people in danger may be held in custody by the police, remanded by the courts, and expect to receive a custodial sentence at the conclusion of the court case.

“Anyone seeking to obstruct or attack an emergency worker will be treated with the full force of the law.

“We stand fully behind justice partners in ensuring that the public and members of the emergency services are protected at all times.

“Our message to people who carry out this type of offending is that it carries serious consequences.

“We will always prosecute such matters where there is a sufficiency of evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.”