Police did not send in officers into a Glasgow community on Bonfire Night due to fears of a “large-scale riot," a meeting has been told.

Rockets were fired along streets, a car was set alight, a bonfire was lit in the middle of a road and people were terrified in their homes for hours.

The Glasgow Times attended a public meeting which heard from the Police Inspector who developed the plan for the Pollokshields area as residents expressed their anger and disappointment at the response on the night.

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Inspector Graeme Hogg, said: “I completely understand the frustration and anger.”

He said a decision was taken not to put officers on the streets.

(Image: Niki Bryce)

Inspector Hogg added: “A decision was made by the command team that we do not deploy on foot. Had police deployed it could have ended up in a riot situation with helmets and shields.

“Had we deployed, the risk of injury to public, police and property would have increased.

“A decision was made to withdraw.”

He added: "It is a decision someone has to make: when to deploy public order officers.

“It could have ended up in a large-scale riot.”

Instead, he said officers monitored using CCTV and inquiries are still ongoing to identify people who were setting off the fireworks and lighting fires.

Residents at the meeting in Pollokshields Burgh Hall told Inspector Hogg what they endured on November 5 and the weeks leading up to it.

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(Image: newsquest)

Kay Sillars, Pollokshields resident, said: “It was entirely predictable. It is the same places year after year.  I saw high-level disorder. We have to live with it.

“Suck it up for two weeks then we will investigate. This is our life year after year. We were so excited about the firework control zone.

“It’s too dangerous for your officers and people here are coming home from work. We are having to suck it up it is disappointing.”

Inspector Hogg replied: “I’m by no means saying it is acceptable and you should suck it up.”

Danny Phillips, resident and campaigner for the Firework Control Zone, said: “We are the target.

“We need people there to protect us, If it’s with riot shields we would welcome that.”

The police said there were 62 officers injured last year during Bonfire night.

Insp Hogg, added: “We are not in a position to put officers into that. They’ve got families to go home to as well. At 11 pm the footfall on the streets was low.”

People told of the scale of the problem with fireworks in the area.

Another man said: “In the park, there is a mound of boxes of spend fireworks, mega industrial things. Where are these things coming from?

“I have a jar of shrapnel from rockets exploding above my house. This is seriously dangerous stuff. You need to get your act together.”

Insp Hogg replied: People are buying online.”

The meeting heard that there were men in cars and vans unloading fireworks and people running back and forth from houses to get more to let off in the street.

Solutions put forward included a ban of the sale of fireworks, a city-wide Firework Control Zone, better community engagement ahead of bonfire night and a return to large organised public displays.

Inspector Hogg agreed a public display could help.

He said, while those intent on breaking the law would still do so, it could be minimised.

He said: “Adults with children are likely to go to a public display then home. I think that would be the case here.

He added: “It would do no harm.”

He also said the Firework Control Zone would help as a deterrent, if it is in place next year.

The meeting was organised by Zubir Ahmed, Labour MP for Glasgow South West and chaired by Ameen Mohammed of the community council.

Ahmed said: “There needs to be a fireworks sale ban.

"Sarah Owen (Labour MP for Luton North) is trying to bring forward a private members bill for a ban and I will be supporting her.

“The laws are not fit for purpose, we need to look at rockets like we have with disposable vapes.”

The councillors present supported his call.

Police, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the council together with councillors and the MSP were all invited.

Insp Hogg and a colleague attended for the police and a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service officer was redirected to a live incident shortly before the meeting.

Despite the anger the residents applauded Insp Hogg for attending and giving a full explanation.

John Molyneux, Greens, Norman MacLeod, SNP and Zen Ghani, SNP, attended.

The council did not send a representative, to the disappointment of many at the meeting.