Police officers will be stationed at selected fire stations and accompany crews during Bonfire Night in Scotland, as part of a major operation to protect emergency workers from possible attacks. The new initiative, Operation Amberlight, will cover 10 stations across Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire.
Up to 1,700 officers could be deployed under Operation Moonbeam, the annual public order plan for Halloween and Bonfire Night, now in its ninth year. Police are also preparing for Celtic’s Europa League match against Besiktas at Celtic Park and possible protest activity in Glasgow. Additional public order vehicles and drivers are being brought in from 18 police forces in England and Wales.
The operation has expanded since disorder in 2023 left 62 officers injured. Fireworks Control Zones, where setting off fireworks or throwing them into the designated area is a criminal offence, have been used in Edinburgh and Glasgow since 2024. This year, the number of zones has risen from 12 to 18. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Commander Mark Cleland said the zones had brought benefits, adding that authorities hoped the expansion would further reduce antisocial behaviour.
Last Bonfire Night, firefighters received about 750 calls and attended more than 250 bonfires. Police said just over 830 calls between 31 October and 5 November 2025 required a local or specialist response, more than a third fewer than the previous year. This Halloween, police received 144 fireworks-related calls, down from 160 in 2025, although serious incidents were reported in Glasgow and Midlothian.
Police also seized 350kg of fireworks, estimated to be worth about £12,000, from a property in Glasgow’s Penilee area. Officers said the fireworks were being sold online and that some could launch 600 rockets.
Organised displays remain available across Scotland, though many council-run events have ended amid the costs and logistical demands of staging them. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said about 20 displays had taken place in the five days before the report, with another 79 planned.
Animal welfare groups have also urged the public to consider the impact of fireworks. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland asked people to avoid setting them off near Edinburgh Zoo and other places where animals may be distressed. The Scottish SPCA supports a UK-wide ban on private fireworks sales and use, and has called for an interim noise limit of 90 decibels, compared with the current 120-decibel limit. For pets, it advises owners to keep animals indoors after dark, close windows, doors and curtains, and use music or television to help mask nearby fireworks.
Sources: BBC News UK.