Massive Bonfire Night operation by police shows the need for fireworks crackdown

Once upon a time, Bonfire Night was the very definition of ‘family fun’, with sparklers, Catherine Wheels, treacle toffee, mulled wine and little mention of the tradition’s grisly origins. However, for the past decade, communities across Scotland have been blighted by thugs who use fireworks as weapons and deliberately draw in the emergency services in order to attack them. Wary of what might happen at last night’s ‘festivities’, Police Scotland staged its biggest operation since Donald Trump’s visit last year – complete with its own codename, Amberlight.

They even decided it was necessary to draft in extra officers from England and Wales. READ MORE: Bonfire Night warning as homeowners urged to take fire risks seriously Chief Superintendent David Robertson said: “There are some communities across Scotland who have experienced this terrible behaviour for, in some instances, more than ten years now. It is a small minority of individuals, but their behaviour remains completely unacceptable and there have been real consequences for communities, for emergency service providers, and there have also been real consequences for the offenders.”

There is evidence that these thugs are being supplied by organised criminal gangs with large amounts of fireworks which, it must be remembered, are explosive devices that can cause serious injuries and fires. Firework control zones and restrictions on the size of devices that can be bought by the public are all very well. But illegal fireworks can easily be mixed in with legal ones, which are still large enough to do considerable damage.

READ MORE: Royal Yacht Britannia's 'private' fireworks party suggests they need to learn some manners – Stephen Jardine When we have reached a point where Bonfire Night requires a major police operation in an attempt to ensure public safety, it really is time to introduce much tougher restrictions and for consideration of an outright ban on the sale of these explosives to the public. It is with regret that we write these words. We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun.

However, if Bonfire Night is essentially facilitating public disorder, it’s time to think again, particularly amid growing concern about gangs of masked youths in town centres. Lawlessness breeds lawlessness. Furthermore, Police Scotland – and officers from down south – have better things to do, and we shouldn’t be forcing them into the line of fire out of nostalgia for a more peaceful time.