Officers suing Police Scotland over Bonfire Night injuries
Police Scotland is being sued by officers who were injured amid violence and disorder during Bonfire Night havoc in Edinburgh.
Chaos erupted in Niddrie on 5 November 2023 after around 50 youths launched fireworks and petrol bombs at riot police.
It has now emerged that 20 officers on duty during the night of 'unprecedented' mayhem are taking legal action against Police Scotland over failing to provide them with safety equipment and noise exposure.
Another officer is pursuing legal action against Police Scotland in relation to further outbreaks of violence and disorder during bonfire night last November.
It is understood the officers who have lodged personal injury claims for the 2023 incident are claiming Police Scotland left them without adequate ear protection, leaving them exposed to a 'constant barrage of fireworks' for up to three hours.
Over 30 officers are said to have reported hearing problems including tinnitus after being exposed to the deafening salvo of firework and petrol bomb explosions.
It was later claimed Police Scotland had around 10,000 sets of sound suppressors designed to protect against noise-induced hearing loss while still allowing officers to hear conversations and listen to radios, but these were not issued prior to Operation Moonbeam — Police Scotland's response to Bonfire Night — due to testing issues at the time.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank and file officers, said around 70 officers in total had been injured on the night.
It said the vast majority of the injuries were minor but 21 officers were later said to still suffering hearing problems, with a further officer injured after being hit by a firework.
Video footage from the night showed officers in riot gear standing in a line while youths threw explosives at their feet.
Officers in other parts of the country also suffered minor injuries while responding to similar bonfire night disturbances.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, later said hearing damage could have been prevented if officers had been supplied with the appropriate protective gear.
He said: 'The officers in Niddrie were exposed to a constant barrage of fireworks, petrol bombs and other missiles for around three hours on that evening.'
According to Mr Kennedy, most officers affected suffered from tinnitus amid concerns it could become a permanent problem, adding: 'This is a problem that could've been resolved if they had been given the appropriate earpieces to use with their airwaves to hear the radio.
'Tinnitus is debilitating and for some it could become worse. Some officers could actually lose their hearing as it gets worse over the years, so it could end some of those officers' careers eventually.'
Police Scotland has now confirmed that 21 claims have been raised relating to bonfire night incidents and said they are ongoing.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: 'During the policing operation for Bonfire night 2023, police officers experienced unprecedented levels of violence towards them during a period of sustained disorder.
'The safety of all our personnel is of the utmost importance during operational deployments. Whenever officers or staff are injured, we strive to provide them with all the necessary assistance and support during their recovery and return to work.
'In addition, each report of injury is assessed to establish learning outcomes that can be applied to policing tactics for future operations.'
ACC Mairs added: 'We will also continue to explore the procurement and distribution of new equipment to safeguard those on the frontline as they perform their duties.'
Niddrie 5 November 2023
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