POLICE Scotland gathered hundreds of young people yesterday for a summit aimed at placing their voices “at the heart” of Scotland’s approach to firework safety.
Edinburgh recently brought in five new firework control zones (FCZs) in Corstorphine, Moredun, Gracemount, Longstone and Sighthill to curb the antisocial use of fireworks in these parts of the city over a ten-day period surrounding Bonfire Night.
These regulations have now been deemed “arbitrary” by Edinburgh council’s leader, as police look for other methods to control the use of fireworks.
Education and virality were the solutions proposed by Fearless and Police Scotland, as they say the lessons of the summit will form the basis of a new anti-firework social media campaign.
An officer from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service giving a talk to young people at the summit yesterday (C) Police Scotland Edinburgh / X
Fearless is a youth service and charity which allows young people to report crimes 100% anonymously and aims to tackle the taboo among young people around doing so.
Fearless jointly hosted the summit with Police Scotland at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh yesterday.
The summit aimed to take on board the advice and worries of young people in Scotland on fireworks, with the belief that using the information gathered to inform future regulations and campaigns will allow police to more effectively fight firework crime.
This year, the number of FCZs in Edinburgh jumped from four to nine, and police are set to again utilise tough dispersal zone laws, which restrict people’s movement for up to 24 hours, after scenes of antisocial behaviour on Bonfire Night last year.
These restrictions have faced criticism, however, with some pointing out that in many FCZ areas, one side of the road is restricted, while the other side is open.
The leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, Jane Meagher, even drew attention to these critiques.
She told BBC Scotland: “The control zones are, in a sense, arbitrary.
“But I am confident the exact arrangements that we had last year will bring about the same consequences this year, which is a safer experience for everybody.”
However, police hope that a softer approach – in the form of social media campaigns and youth-focused safety summits – combined with FCZs and dispersal zones can provide an effective remedy for antisocial behaviour surrounding Bonfire Night.
Lindsay McDade, event organiser and Fearless Scotland manager said that the social media campaign is “very much a work in progress”.
She added: “Fireworks control zones are just one tool to help reduce disorder, but they’re not the full solution.
“Real change comes from prevention – working with young people, listening to their voices, and supporting communities to understand the far-reaching impact of fireworks misuse, in order to make safer choices together.”
Lothian Buses also weighed in on the summit (C) Police Scotland Edinburgh / X
Chief superintendent David Robertson, divisional commander for Edinburgh said: “The Igniting Change event is a terrific way for key partners to engage proactively with young people to ensure their voices are at the heart of our preventative approach, while also highlighting the potential risks to their safety.
“We recognise that meaningful collaboration with partners and young people is vital to addressing the challenges faced and this event demonstrates our shared commitment to keeping Scotland’s communities safe.
“The number of recorded incidents involving fireworks has increased and, in addition to the danger this poses to emergency services on the ground, these offences have a significant and detrimental impact on our communities, including young people.”
During the summit yesterday Lindsay added: “Every autumn, we see the real impact fireworks misuse can have on people, animals, and communities. But it’s wrong to assume young people aren’t just as affected and just as keen to see change, as adults.
“The vast majority care deeply about their friends, their families, and the places they live.
“Igniting Change was about giving them the knowledge to make positive choices for themselves, as well as the platform and confidence to lead conversations with their peers and help shape this year’s campaign.
At the summit, young people had the opportunity to share their thoughts via a digital graffiti wall and were given talks by the Scottish Ambulance Service, Medics Against Violence, Edinburgh Zoo, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Lothian Buses.
The social media campaign outlined in the summit will launch across TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram on 27 October.
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