Image source, Getty ImagesPolice Scotland are preparing for a large-scale operation on Bonfire Night
Scotland’s biggest police operation since the visit of President Donald Trump last year is to take place on Bonfire Night, in the face of a “unique” combination of safety concerns.
As many as 1,700 officers could be deployed on and around 5 November to deal with fireworks-related disorder, a European football match involving Celtic and potential protests in Glasgow.
Additional public order vehicles and drivers are being brought in from 18 English and Welsh police forces under mutual aid arrangements.
Police Scotland says the plan, titled Operation Amberlight, is intended to ensure the safety of the public and emergency services.
The force has already vowed that anyone caught up in disorder around Halloween and Bonfire Night will face “very real consequences“.
This will be enforced through Fireworks Control Zones (FCZs), which ban the use of pyrotechnics in certain areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow from 30 October.
In recent years, emergency crews have been pelted with petrol bombs and missiles – though police said there were fewer instances of this last year.
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The deployment will beef up Operation Moonbeam, the annual police response to fireworks-linked criminality which is now in its ninth year.
Moonbeam involves local police divisions receiving additional specialist support in case trouble breaks out on their patch.
This year’s Bonfire Night will see police coping with two further challenges – both in Scotland’s biggest city.
Celtic will take on Turkish side Beskitas in a Uefa Europa League match at Celtic Park.
Officers say they are also aware of images circulating online, suggesting “planned protest activity” will take place in Glasgow the same night.
The force is planning what it calls “one overarching policing operation” to ensure a co-ordinated approach.
Operation Amberlight’s gold commander, Ch Supt David Robertson, said: “Bonfire Night remains one of the busiest nights on the calendar for Police Scotland.
“We are committed to supporting local policing divisions with dedicated nationally co-ordinated specialist capabilities.
“Operation Amberlight builds on what is already in place to further enhance our capability and capacity to respond to the unique challenges we may face on 5 November.
“Whilst we have seen improvements in recent years, we are not complacent, and with these additional challenges, our enhanced model will see the largest deployment of police forces since the visit of President Trump.”
The worst Bonfire Night disorder in recent years took place in 2023, when more than 60 officers were injured across the country.
Youths targeted officers with petrol bombs and fireworks in the Niddrie area of Edinburgh.
Similar incidents were reported in other parts of the city, while fire crews were targeted in Dundee, Glasgow, Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, and Blackburn in West Lothian.
Further instances of anti-social behaviour around Halloween in 2024 saw another officer injured and bus services withdrawn from Niddrie despite police seizing a cache of fireworks and petrol during pre-emptive raids.
This year, Fireworks Control Zones (FCZs) banning the use of pyrotechnics in certain areas are scheduled to come into force in Edinburgh and Glasgow from 30 October.
Under the restrictions, it is a criminal offence to set off a firework within the FCZ boundary or throw one into a zone.
The FCZs run from 30 October to 8 November in Edinburgh and until 9 November in Glasgow.
The police response to President Trump’s visits in July 2025 – Operation Roll 2 – cost £21m and involved 7,340 officers.
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