Edinburgh police officers targeted by firework thugs on Bonfire Night

At a meeting of Edinburgh City Council’s policy and sustainability committee on Tuesday December 1, Police Scotland’s Chief Superintendent Sean Scott gave an update on the incidence rate of crime in the capital.

The Chief Superintendent, who is the city’s Divisional Commander, told the meeting that despite coronavirus restrictions, his officers attended a similar number of incidents on Bonfire Night to previous years, including incidents where ‘police vehicles and our officers were targeted’.

He said: “At the last policy and sustainability committee meeting we were planning for Bonfire Night and Halloween, we’ve taken stock of events that weekend, and disappointingly, despite all of the preparation and working with partners, we experienced a similar number of incidents involving the dangerous use of fireworks.

“As in 2019, there were a number of occasions where police vehicles and our officers were targeted.

“Thankfully, no one was injured but I’m extremely disappointed at the behaviour of a small few, for the safety of my staff and emergency responders who were put at risk, and I can report that a rigorous investigation into those who offended is progressing positively.”

Depute leader of the council, Cammy Day, said: “I am disgusted to see our police officers attacked while doing their duty keeping the public safe.

“The council has agreed that the council leader writes to the UK Government seeking their interventions in relation to firework legislations.”

Joseph Anderson, Local Democracy Reporter

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