Beat the banger yobs

Crackdown on f irework louts who target public and emergency crews

HOOLIGANS who use fireworks as weapons are to be targeted in a Scottish Government crackdown.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham will this week unveil a raft of measures to keep people and pets safe on Bonfire Night.

She will call for police, firefighters and community groups to work together and share intelligence to prevent attacks.

The main aim will be to tackle yobs who launch fireworks at unsuspecting members of the public and emergency workers. But Ms Denham also wants to do more to protect animals from the distress of the explosions.

A publicity campaign will warn about the dangers of misuse.

The Minister will not unveil new legislation as laws are already in place for police to arrest people who use fireworks to injure, intimidate or cause criminal damage. But government sources made clear she believes attacks on the public and blue-light crews are ‘completely unacceptable’.

Ms Denham will tell police yobs must be ‘pursued with the full force of the law’. Police Scotland had asked for fireworks to be set off only at licensed events. But it is understood that the Minister will not limit use of fireworks this week – although she has not ruled out such a move in the future.

A consultation looked at restrictions on the sale of fireworks – the power for which resides at Westminster.

Last night, the efforts to crack down on fireworks were welcomed by the Scottish SPCA animal charity. Head of policy Gilly Mendes Ferreira said: ‘For years we have supported tighter restrictions on public use due to the stress and anxiety to animals.

‘We’ve had reports of animals injured through trying to escape the noise of fireworks.

‘Incidents include dogs running on to roads and being hit by oncoming traffic, birds such as swans flying into electricity pylons and horses being badly injured after running through barbed wire fences.

‘We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to improve animal welfare surrounding the use of fireworks.’

But Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr accused the SNP of being too slow to act.

He said: ‘The SNP’s approach to the management of fireworks has been far too piecemeal and hesitant and has therefore left the public at risk.

‘Some of these events have previously got out of hand, putting our first responders in unacceptable situations. This is why the Scottish Conservatives have long argued for proposals designed to clamp down on the yobs who take advantage of these situations for their own violent ends.

‘Under a Scottish Tory government, police would have the power to search for fireworks, there would be tougher sentences for offences and we would ensure responders have equipment to keep them from harm.’

‘Attacks on the public are completely unacceptable’