Public urged to help stop Bonfire Night attacks on emergency services

Crimestoppers has launched a campaign, supported by the Scottish Government, which aims to help prevent deliberate fires and bonfire night attacks on police, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) staff. 

Members of the public are being urged to report information about any planned attacks to Crimestoppers and also help provide information after Bonfire Night about who was responsible for any incidents that may take place. 

The independent charity allows people to speak up anonymously and help tackle crime. 

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(Image: James Chapelard) Angela Parker, national manager of Crimestoppers in Scotland, says the campaign is important because "everyone has the right to feel safe". 

She said: "It's a really important campaign asking the public if they know or suspect any planned attacks on emergency services across Scotland in bonfire season they can contact our charity 100% anonymously."

Bonfire Night is one of the busiest nights of the year for emergency services.

In 2023 emergency crews across Scotland experienced planned attacks and Crimestoppers' campaign generated a wealth of important information and prevented at least one extremely serious attack from taking place. 

Communities who have experienced an increase in fireworks attacks will be equipped with leaflets, posters and banners to raise awareness of the law around fireworks misuse. 

Angela continued: "The campaign covers all of Scotland but there are areas that do experience higher levels of serious fireworks misuse so we're doing some outreach work in areas such as Pollokshields in Glagsow, Dundee and in Edinburgh and the Lothians."

Angela Parker (Image: James Chapelard) Andrew Watt, SFRS assistant chief officer, said: "We see every year attacks on emergency services workers around Bonfire Night and the seriousness of that and injury and damage that can cause. 

"Last year we saw in the week running up to Bonfire Night 15 attacks in total with nine on Bonfire Night itself. 

"Our staff work tirelessly over the Bonfire period to keep people safe, and do not deserve to be attacked for doing their job.

"They should be able to carry out their role without being hurt or having appliances and equipment damaged by reckless anti-social behaviour."

He continued: "I really encourage local communities to share information on any attacks that they see or any information they have on planned attacks with Crimestoppers to allow Police Scotland to take any necessary course of action required."

ACO Andrew Watt, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. (Image: James Chapelard) MSP Siobhian Brown, minister for Victims and Community Safety, added: "The emergency services play a vital role in keeping us all safe and any assaults on them will not be tolerated.

"Measures brought in last year mean attacks on 999 crews using fireworks or pyrotechnics are now aggravating factors that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders.

"Other steps we have taken to improve firework safety include bringing in a ban on providing fireworks to under-18s.

"If you have information about any activity that might put emergency workers or communities at risk as Bonfire Night approaches, please get in touch with Crimestoppers by phone or on their website."

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Siobhian Brown, MSP (Image: James Chapelard) Specially trained Police Scotland Public Order Officers will be deployed during Bonfire Night to protect local policing teams from attack as part of Operation Moonbeam. 

Since the initiative was first launched in 2018, the number of criminal incidents involving fireworks has decreased.

However, last year police responding to reports of disorder and antisocial behaviour in certain parts of the country were subjected to unprecedented levels of aggression and violence with 62 officers sustaining injuries. 

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: "Often people just think this is a bit of fun but actually as we've seen over the years the misuse of fireworks causes a lot of concern in communities so some older and vulnerable folks become isolated during this period and you see physical damage to communities. 

"Sadly over the years we've seen really serious physical and psychological damage to police officers, ambulance staff and firefighters and on top of that equipment and vehicles used by them have been seriously damaged which means they're off the road and they're not able to respond top keep the public safe."

ACC Tim Mairs (Image: James Chapelard) We previously reported Pollokshields was to be the first Firework Control Zone in Glasgow which would mean the private use of fireworks would be banned on and around bonfire night.

However, in an administrative blunder the council missed the date for when it had to issue a legal notification meaning it will not go ahead. 

The zone was to have been in place from 1-10 November covering both public and private spaces including gardens.