Enhanced policing deployment for Bonfire Night

October 28, 2026 7

The largest co-ordinated police response since the visit of President Trump will be deployed to ensure the safety of the public and emergency services on Bonfire Night is being launched.

Police Scotland is enhancing its plans for 5 November to meet additional demands.

European football and potential for protest activity on Bonfire Night will see additional officers deployed with support of colleagues from England and Wales to keep people safe.

Each year, additional specialist support is provided to local policing divisions to address any issues relating to fireworks-related disorder as part of Operation Moonbeam.

On Thursday, 5 November, Celtic FC will take on Beskitas in a UEFA Europa League match at Celtic Park, and Police Scotland is also aware of images circulating online suggesting planned protest activity taking place within Glasgow on the same night.

To ensure an effective and co-ordinated approach to protecting communities, police officer and to support our partners, one overarching policing operation will oversee their safe delivery.

Operation Amberlight will further support local policing divisions to ensure the same level of dedicated specialist resource is available on Bonfire Night. Additional support has been obtained via mutual aid.

Public Order Officers from Avon & Somerset, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Kent, North Yorkshire, North Wales, West Mercia, Staffordshire, and South Wales Police will be deployed as part of Operation Amberlight.

This will enhance Police Scotland’s capability to provide an appropriate and proportionate response to the increased demand the service will face throughout 5 November.

Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Gold Commander for Operation Amberlight, 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 and 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 5th November.

“Whilst we have seen improvements in recent years, we are not complacent, and with these additional challenges, our enhanced deployment model we will see largest deployment of police resources since the visit of President Trump.

“As a national service, one of our strengths is our ability to deploy officers where they are needed across the country, supporting local policing teams with specialist capabilities.

“In the face of increasingly more complex demands, we can build on that strength with mutual aid from colleagues in England and Wales to meet the additional demands.

“I thank them for their assistance as we work together to protect the public, reassure communities and respond effectively to incidents.”

Written by: Phil Briscoe

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