The short version
- Authorities in Scotland and England are implementing significant policing operations and dispersal orders to prevent antisocial behavior associated with Bonfire Night celebrations.
- Fire services report a sharp rise in physical attacks on personnel, with unions citing chronic underfunding and station closures as critical risks to public safety.
- Growing public pressure for stricter firework regulations has intensified following incidents involving animal distress and property damage across multiple regions.
Emergency services across the United Kingdom are preparing for a surge in disorder on November 5, commonly known as Bonfire Night. Police forces and fire brigades have heightened their operational readiness in response to rising concerns about public safety and the increasing frequency of attacks on first responders. The anticipation of unrest has prompted authorities to deploy enhanced powers, including dispersal orders, in several towns and cities where groups have already engaged in antisocial behavior by setting off fireworks in public spaces.
In Scotland, the scale of the policing operation is described as the largest since the visit of former US President Donald Trump. To manage potential instability, particularly around a Europa League football match between Celtic and Beşiktaş in Glasgow, authorities have activated mutual aid agreements. Public order vehicles and drivers from English and Welsh police forces are being brought in to support local units. This coordinated effort aims to prevent a recurrence of the violence seen in 2023, when dozens of officers were injured during similar celebrations.
Specific hotspots such as Edinburgh and Glasgow have implemented fireworks control zones that ban the use of pyrotechnics. These measures are part of a broader crackdown intended to curb the misuse of explosives. In West Yorkshire, police have noted that the period surrounding November 5 is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for their forces. Riot officers and helicopters are routinely deployed in areas like Hyde Park in Leeds to address disorder caused by individuals using fireworks as projectiles.
Recent incidents highlight the severity of the current situation. In Birmingham, seven arrests were made after fireworks were discharged in the city center on Halloween. Similarly, a pub landlady in Salford reported that her establishment was surrounded by approximately sixty teenagers who fired pyrotechnics at the building and harassed pedestrians. Police in Bradford and Halifax seized thirty tonnes of illegal fireworks prior to the holiday period, hoping to reduce the availability of dangerous materials.
The safety of firefighters has become a central concern for emergency service unions. Statistics from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government indicate that 129 firefighters were injured in attacks in England during the year ending March 2025, a significant increase from 96 injuries the previous year. Of these incidents, thirteen resulted in serious harm. In Scotland, fire and rescue services recorded sixteen physical attacks against personnel and twenty attacks on property and equipment during the 2025-26 period.
Union leaders argue that current resource levels are insufficient to handle the volume of calls and threats. The Fire Brigades Union states that services were pushed beyond safe limits last year, with London experiencing a ten-year high in call volumes. Adam Taylor, a national officer for the union, described fire services as decimated since 2010 due to station closures and the removal of hundreds of frontline engines. He has called for an increase of five thousand firefighters to ensure adequate response times and personnel safety.
Phil Garrigan, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, emphasized that firefighters should never face violence from the communities they serve. He noted that attacks not only endanger individual lives but also impair the ability of crews to respond effectively to emergencies. The National Police Chiefs’ Council echoed these sentiments, urging the public to enjoy seasonal activities without crossing into antisocial behavior or endangering vulnerable community members.
Public sentiment regarding fireworks is shifting, with growing calls for stricter regulation. More than 1.6 million people have signed petitions advocating for tighter controls, driven by concerns over animal welfare and public safety. The Scottish Greens have proposed a ban on private firework sales to eliminate dangerous, unorganized displays. This push for regulation gained urgency after an endangered baby red panda at Edinburgh Zoo died from stress caused by fireworks in 2024. Agricultural groups have also joined the conversation, urging residents to consider the impact of loud noises on livestock.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Police and firefighters around UK gearing up to tackle Bonfire Night disorder
