Emergency services are preparing for possible riots during Bonfire Night in some parts of the UK. There were concerns earlier that firefighters are being attacked more frequently, and there is a shortage of resources.
In the days leading up to November 5th, some communities were affected by riots and anti-social behavior. Police in several towns and cities used dispersal orders and other enforcement measures to deal with groups that set off fireworks in public places.
On Saturday, seven people were arrested in Birmingham due to fireworks being set off in the city center on Halloween. Meanwhile, the owner of a bar in Sorbrooke said that the bar was surrounded by "about 60 teenagers" who set off fireworks at the building and harassed passersby.
Some key districts have assured the public that they will increase police presence; firefighters meanwhile urged people to stop "unacceptable" acts of aggression.
Scotland is carrying out large-scale police operations—the largest since the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump last year.
Edinburgh and parts of Glasgow have established fireworks control zones, prohibiting the use of fireworks. This is part of measures taken to prevent a recurrence of the incident where dozens of police officers were injured on Bonfire Night in 2023.
Every year at this time, riot police and police helicopters are routinely deployed to the Hyde Park area in Leeds to deal with disturbances caused by people using fireworks as projectiles.
Before Halloween and Bonfire Night arrive, Bradford and Halifax seized 30 tons of illegal fireworks. The police said they hope this will help to curb the use of illegal fireworks.
National Police Commission spokesman said, “At this time of the year, some people may feel more vulnerable to harassment and antisocial behavior. We hope that people will enjoy the activities of this season, but it is important to ensure that antisocial behavior is not crossed and to be aware of the potential impact of their actions on vulnerable groups in the community.”
Last year, firefighters were attacked by fireworks while dealing with a fire in an apartment building in Liverpool.
According to data from the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government, in the year ending March 2025, there were 129 firefighters in England who were injured in attacks. The previous year, there were 96 such cases, with 13 of them suffering serious injuries.
According to data from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, during the 2025-26 season, firefighters experienced 16 physical assaults, and property and equipment were attacked 20 times.
National Fire Service Commissioner (NFCC) Chairman Phil Garrigan stated that firefighters "risk their own lives to protect others," and "they absolutely should not be subject to violence or abuse from the people they are trying to help."
He said, “Firefighters are like mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors—they are also part of the community they serve. Like anyone else, they return to their families after work. Every attack against firefighters is unacceptable. This not only puts individual firefighters at risk of injury, but it can also affect their ability to respond effectively and protect the communities that depend on them.”
The Fire Brigade Union (FBU) stated that during Last Night of Bonfires last year, the fire department was pushed to a situation ‘far beyond safety limits’ while dealing with thousands of alarm calls, including a record number of emergencies in London in ten years.
FBU national affairs officials Adam Taylor stated that since 2010, firefighting services have been “significantly reduced.” He calls for increasing 5000 firefighters, “to ensure we are adequately staffed and can respond to these incidents in a safe and timely manner.”
Taylor said that many fire stations have been closed, and hundreds of front-line fire trucks have been deactivated. “This will inevitably prolong response times.”
