This allows police to stop and search people and vehicles to search for weapons and other “dangerous instruments” if they “believe there is a possibility of serious violence or disorder taking place”.
#niddrie #Bonfire pic.twitter.com/xl4tX5A224
— Kamila 🇵🇱🏴 (@KamilciakKamila) November 5, 2024
A helicopter is also among the “specialist resources” being deployed as part of Operation Moonbeam, which is aimed at supporting local police in tackling fireworks-related offences.
Police and fire services were also deployed in Pollokshields, Glasgow, where a car was set on fire.
The area was to be the subject of they city’s fireworks ban, however Glasgow City Council missed the deadline to issue a notification and the ban could not go ahead.
Heartbreaking to see these scenes from Sighthill in Edinburgh tonight
The Knights do a lot of great work in the area & there are so many good people there who do not deserve this behaviour on their streets & the stigma that it brings 😠@PSOSSWEdinburgh #banfireworks #Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/ve6zOTa9Vg— Coach Pete (@PeteLaird5) November 5, 2024
Superintendent Neil Wilson, from Edinburgh Division, said: “We are currently responding to incidents of disorder involving large groups of youths throwing a range of objects, including fireworks, bricks and bottles, across Edinburgh.
“Local policing teams are being supported by specialist resources as part of Operation Moonbeam.”
After a #PoliceScotland presence in the area of #Niddrie all week, and after having surrounded the area like nothing I’ve ever seen today, within approximately 5 minutes of things kicking off, every single police vehicle and officer left the area. pic.twitter.com/wpLTYXF15c
— Archy (@ArchyTheMoonMan) November 5, 2024
Lothian Buses also announced it had taken the “difficult but necessary decision” to withdraw all services from the Niddrie area until the end of the evening.
The transport operator said on a statement on social media: “We take a zero-tolerance approach to all instances of antisocial behaviour.”
“The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our absolute priority.
“This evening we have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw all services from the Niddrie area until the end of service tonight.”
We are utilising air support in Edinburgh as part of Operation Moonbeam.
The helicopter is just one of the specialist resources supporting local policing teams in keeping people safe and responding to firework offences.
Please continue to report any incidents. pic.twitter.com/iId5dj7bME
— Police Scotland Edinburgh (@PSOSEdinburgh) November 5, 2024
Niddrie was also the scene of disorder on October 31, when police and public transport vehicles were pelted with fireworks and bricks.
Earlier, officers in Glasgow recovered a “significant quantity” of fireworks from a van in the Drumpchapel area.
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In a statement posted on social media, police said the fireworks were being “sold to the general public, including children”, and that they had now been seized.
They added that a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, and that Trading Standards have been notified.
Scotland’s first fireworks control zones (FCZ) are in place in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow area from November 1 to November 10.
It is an offence to set off a firework within a FCZ, with those convicted being liable for a fine of up to £5,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
