Police have revealed the extent of Bonfire Night disorder in Glasgow this year.

The force has confirmed there were fewer serious incidents in 2024 compared to 2023, but the number of fireworks-related calls remained consistent.

Various parts of the city experienced 'pockets' of disorder, with youths seen throwing fireworks at members of the public, cars and police officers.

Video footage shared on social media appeared to show fireworks being lit on Albert Drive in Pollokshields, while another appeared to show a bonfire being lit in the middle of the road.

 

It comes after Glasgow City Council admitted a failure to implement firework control zones in the city, which would have been in effect from November 1 to 10 and covered public and private spaces.

READ MORE: Glasgow city council embarrassed at firework zone failure

The council had published a legal notice of the control zone too late for the ban to take place over Bonfire night. 

Police said there was also an incident in Glasgow of fire engines being attacked, but no injuries were reported. 

Specialist resources were deployed across Scotland on 18 separate occasions, compared to 26 last year in Operation Moonbeam.

In October and November 2023, 62 officers were injured after being targeted with fireworks and other projectiles.

So far this year, one officer was injured on Halloween after a brick was thrown through the window of her police vehicle in Edinburgh and a person has been arrested and charged in connection. 

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam said: “I firstly want to recognise the outstanding courage and professionalism of all of those emergency service workers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep communities safe.

“Their actions ensured that some of the challenging scenes we witnessed this year did not escalate into mass disorder, on the scale of what we experienced last year.

“Nevertheless, the levels of violence and aggression police officers, fire service and ambulance service personnel faced in some areas was wholly unacceptable and a significant investigative response is now underway to identify each and every one of those involved and bring them to justice.

“In advance of Bonfire Night 2024, local policing teams across Scotland have worked diligently with local authority and third sector partners to make positive in-roads with communities and identify some of the root causes that lead to disorder.

"In addition, this engagement has resulted in an increase in the intelligence we have received from the public, allowing us to take preventative enforcement action before crimes could occur.

“Throughout Operation Moonbeam, we have utilised all legislation and policing powers at our disposal and we will continue our discussions with local authorities and Scottish Government to explore further opportunities for reducing fireworks offences for next year and moving forward.”