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Disorder in numerous cities involving the letting off of fireworks around Halloween and in the days before Bonfire Night, November 5, has prompted calls for a ban on the public sale of fireworks. Disorder took place across various parts of the city, Police Scotland said.
City of Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day said that while fireworks arenโt an issue unique to Edinburgh, or indeed Scotland, ‘this sort of behaviour has no place in our city’.
He said yesterday: “Itโs long been my view that we need to ban the public sale of fireworks, given the potential risk to health, if misused, but also the unnecessary fear and alarm they cause in our communities. I will be writing to my colleagues in the UK Government to request a review of the legislation, as well as calling on the judiciary to hand down tougher sentences for those found guilty of committing these crimes.
“Iโm determined to do everything within our power to prevent a repeat of last year. Earlier this week I chaired the latest multi-agency meeting with colleagues, the police and fire service as part of our ongoing preparations, and the implementation of our firework control zones, which come into effect tomorrow (November 1). In addition to FCZs, weโre also increasing patrols from our waste services to collect items that could potentially be set alight.
“Bonfire Night should be an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate and spend time together. I would urge everyone in the city to only attend organised displays and look out for one another. Please work with us and our fantastic emergency services to help make it a safe and enjoyable occasion this year. If you witness any criminality, please call the police on 101.
“I want to thank our emergency services once again for the professional and measured way they carry out their duties under the most difficult of circumstances. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics have a tough enough job already without being subjected to violence and abuse. Please show them the respect they deserve this Bonfire Night.”
On Merseyside, a police officer was injured, and damage was caused to vehicles in Belle Vale Park. Separately, the force made a dispersal zone in Whiston due to anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the area; and in West Derby; Woolton; Walton; Liverpool city centre; and other parts.
In central Birmingham, West Midlands Police made a Section 35 dispersal order after calls from the public about groups of people launching fireworks at each other and neighbouring buildings. Fireworks were fired at attending police officers.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Craig Carter, said: โItโs really concerning for us to see so many firework-related incidents caused by people deliberately misusing fireworks in the past few weeks.
โAs we enter the time of year when fireworks are more readily available and used for celebrations, weโre urging the public to think twice before purchasing fireworks and to consider attending an organised display instead. Parents should also talk to their children about the dangers of playing with fireworks.
โOur priority is to keep Londoners safe, but when people are misusing fireworks, it takes away resources from other emergencies across the capital.”
LFB reports that Londonโs busiest boroughs during fireworks season in terms of calls to incidents are Tower Hamlets, Ealing, Newham, Enfield, and Hounslow.
Photo by Mark Rowe: Scott monument, Edinburgh.
