Firefighters and Police forces across Scotland are urging people to visit organised fireworks displays and report underage and proxy purchases of fireworks from stores, in a bid to douse crime and firework-related injuries and damage this Bonfire season.
Retailers who sell fireworks are also being urged to ensure that they enforce strict age-verification policies.
From 10 October 2022 it became an offence under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act for anyone to provide a firework, or other pyrotechnic article, to someone under the age of 18.
This includes knowingly buying, attempting to buy, giving, or in any way making available.
Anyone in breach of the Act will be subject to a fine of £5,000, a six-month prison term, or both.
A new aggravator for attacks on emergency service workers has also been introduced to help protect workers.
In 2021, there were eight reported attacks on crews along with the three injuries, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said.
Firefighters also responded to more than 370 bonfires across the country during an eight-hour period on 5 November.
Local policing divisions across Scotland are also being supported by specialist Public Order Officers as part of Operation Moonbeam to help keep communities safe over the Bonfire Night period.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam said: “It has already been an incredibly busy year for policing in Scotland and we are now preparing for one of our most demanding and challenging periods over the Bonfire Night weekend.
“The introduction of the proxy-purchasing offence helps us limit the access young people have to fireworks and gives us more powers of enforcement for those who choose not to obey the law.
“The new aggravator for attacks on emergency service workers is a welcome addition to existing legislation and ensures those responsible receive the severest punishments for their action.”
