POLICE SCOTLAND TO EMBED OFFICERS IN FIRE STATIONS FOR BONFIRE NIGHT

Police Scotland is to embed officers in fire stations and have them travel with crews on Bonfire Night to protect firefighters from attack. The move forms part of Scotland's biggest policing operation since President Donald Trump's visit last summer, reflecting what the force called a "unique" combination of safety concerns. These include firework-related disorder, a European football match involving Celtic, and potential protests in Glasgow. Police could deploy as many as 1,700 officers. The new initiative, Operation Amberlight, will station officers at selected fire stations, with Glasgow a particular focus.

Police Scotland said it will base 20 officers at 10 fire stations across Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The force said it has "absolutely" enough resources to tackle firework-related crime and anti-social behaviour this year. Additional public order vehicles and drivers are coming from 18 police forces in England and Wales, and Operation Moonbeam 2026 lets local divisions call on specially trained officers to tackle disorder. Officers will enforce firework control zones and dispersal zones in some areas, giving them power to disperse groups whose behaviour causes alarm or distress.

The annual Moonbeam operation is now in its ninth year and has grown since 2023, when police said disorder left 62 officers injured. The worst violence that year took place in Edinburgh's Niddrie area, where youths attacked officers with fireworks, petrol bombs and other missiles. Glasgow and Dundee have also seen significant disorder in recent years. Emergency services recommend organised displays as the safest way to enjoy fireworks. The fire service said around 20 organised displays had taken place across Scotland in the past five days, with 79 more planned.