The key facts
- Up to 1,700 police officers will be deployed on 5 November — the largest deployment since Donald Trump's visit in July 2025 (then 7,340 officers, £21 million)
- Additional forces and vehicles are arriving from 18 police forces in England and Wales under mutual aid agreements
- Firework control zones (FCZs) are in force in Edinburgh from 30 October to 8 November, and in Glasgow until 9 November
Operation Amberlight
Police Scotland is preparing Operation Amberlight for Bonfire Night (5 November) — the largest deployment since US President Donald Trump's visit in July 2025, BBC News reports. Up to 1,700 officers may be deployed. For comparison: Operation Roll 2 during Trump's visits cost £21 million and required 7,340 police officers.
Why the operation has been expanded
Amberlight builds on the annual Operation Moonbeam, which for the ninth consecutive year has been responsible for countering fireworks-related disorder. This year, police face a 'unique' combination of challenges: in addition to the usual fireworks problems, a UEFA Europa League match between Celtic and Turkey's Beşiktaş will take place in Glasgow that same evening at Celtic Park, while images circulating online point to 'planned protest activity' in the city. To coordinate efforts, police are forming 'one single operation'. Additional public order vehicles and drivers are arriving from 18 police forces in England and Wales under mutual aid agreements. Gold commander David Robertson described Bonfire Night as 'one of the busiest evenings in the calendar' for police and stressed that, despite improvements in recent years, the force 'is not complacent'.
Firework control zones and the context of disorder
From 30 October, firework control zones (FCZs) come into force in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow: setting off fireworks inside the zone boundary or throwing a firework into the zone is a criminal offence. In Edinburgh the zones run until 8 November, in Glasgow until 9 November. Police have previously warned that those involved in disorder around Halloween and Bonfire Night 'will face real consequences'. The impetus for the tough measures was 2023 — the worst year for disorder in recent years: more than 60 officers were injured across the country, in the Niddrie area of Edinburgh youths pelted police with petrol bombs and fireworks, and firefighters came under attack in Dundee, Glasgow, Blantyre and Blackburn. In 2024, another officer was injured in Niddrie and bus services in the area were suspended, despite pre-emptive searches during which a stockpile of fireworks and petrol bombs was seized. According to police, attacks on emergency services decreased last year; however, residents of Glasgow, in their own words quoted by the BBC, said that in 2025 the city still felt like a 'war zone', despite the control zones in force.
Image source, Getty Images Police Scotland are preparing for a large-scale operation on Bonfire Night
