Fireworks fightback
GLASGOW families terrorised on Bonfire Night by fireworks throwing thugs are fighting back.
Pollokshields Community Council is hosting a meeting with locals, police, politicians and the fire service to ensure similar scenes do not occur again.
CONCERNED residents from an area terrorised by fireworks on Bonfire Night are calling on local officials to ensure protections are in place ahead of next year’s event.
Riot police were called to Pollokshields after around 40 men – some in balaclavas – threw explosives at homes, cars and community police officers.
Chief Inspector Ross Allan reported seeing industrial fireworks up to five feet in length during an assault on the area that left locals frightened and in tears.
Now Pollokshields Community Council is hosting an event with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, cross-party politicians and senior police.
Kate E Deeming, vice-chair of the community council said: “The meeting is to give the community an opportunity to voice their experiences and upset, to put it mildly, about what happened.
“We want to look at how we can better use our resources to better plan for next year so this doesn’t happen again.
“The individuals who were responsible for the fireworks are a small minority but they have caused huge damage both physically and psychologically on many levels.
“We want to band together collectively as a community and say, ‘This is not what we are about. We are about something better than this.’
“We want to think through this very analytically and come up with ways we can be safer as a community with trust in our police and fire services.”
The local community is invited to attend the event in Glendale Primary School, on McCulloch Street, from 7pm on Monday, November 26.
The event was initially due to be held in Pollokshields Community Centre but a surge in interest has meant a move to a larger venue was necessary.
Local resident Danny Philips, whose video of November 5 went viral, has been petitioning local politicians to ask for solutions to be found.
Mr Phillips said: “The experience in different areas around the city is very different.
“Some people have a really enjoyable time; for other places it’s terrible.
“Our experience this year was really exceptional and we, firstly, need to make sure it is never repeated but we also need to find out what everyone thinks because people in different places will have different views.
“We should be discussing solutions such as exclusion zones or dispersal areas or banning sales without a licence.”
A debate on the issue has been convened for November 26 at Westminster where local MP Alison Thewliss is expected to ask for meaningful action from Ministers.
‘‘ Some people have a really enjoyable time... for other places it’s terrible