Latest news with #OperationMoonbeam
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Man convicted of Bonfire Night chaos in Edinburgh after giving kids fireworks
Jordan McMillan, 24, was found guilty of culpable and reckless conduct after supplying the individuals with pyrotechnics on November 5 last year. A man has been convicted of causing chaos in Edinburgh on Bonfire Night after providing youths with fireworks. Jordan McMillan, 24, was found guilty of culpable and reckless conduct after supplying the individuals with pyrotechnics on November 5 last year. His actions saw the devices being pelted at police and firefighters during mass disorder in the capital's Niddrie, Sighthill, Broomhouse and Gilmerton areas. The terrifying scenes saw hooligans set fire to roads, play parks, wheelie bins and cars. Balaclava-clad hooligans were also filmed launching rockets in the direction of moving vehicles. The disorder brought the area to a standstill as riot cops were forced to move in to close Niddrie Main Road off from the public. McMillan was arrested as part of a major criminal investigation into the offences that took place between Halloween and Bonfire Night. He was convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday. He will be sentenced on July 14. Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh said: 'This conviction should send a very clear message that the reckless and dangerous behaviour we witnessed across Edinburgh last year will not be tolerated. 'Police officers and other emergency service workers do not come to work to be attacked, and the level of violence directed towards them during Halloween and Bonfire Night was wholly unacceptable. 'Jordan McMillan did not act in isolation and is only one of several individuals responsible for the offences we saw on Niddrie Mains Road during the evening of 5 November 2024. "Further positive court outcomes for those involved in disorder during 2024 are anticipated and we are currently working with key partners ahead of Bonfire Night 2025 to protect our communities from this reckless and dangerous behaviour, which simply has to stop.' The chaos in Niddrie followed a number of other incidents in the area in recent years. On Halloween 2024, officers faced attacks from youths armed with fireworks and bricks - resulting in injuries to one female officer during the chaos on Hay Drive. Similar disturbances occurred in 2023, with the community in lockdown as gangs of youths clashed with riot police and damaged buses. Police have been cracking down on the chaos as part of Operation Moonbeam. Last year, four teens were among seven people arrested over Bonfire Night riots after a series of dawn raids were carried out by police in the hunt for the thugs behind Scotland's firework riots. The raids in November involved 20 officers and the arrest of four teenagers before they could set off for school. Three other adults, including a 39-year-old woman, were nicked in the operation. All seven of those arrested were charged with disorder offences.
Edinburgh Reporter
28-05-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
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 Like this: Like Related
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Police being sued by own officers injured in shameful rioting on Bonfire Night
Police Scotland is being sued by more than 20 of its own officers who claim the force failed to protect them. The group were injured amid violence and disorder during Bonfire Night havoc in Edinburgh in 2023 and 2024. Chaos erupted in the Niddrie area of the city on November 5, 2023 after around 50 youths launched fireworks and petrol bombs at riot police. It has now emerged that 20 officers on duty during the 'unprecedented' mayhem are taking legal action against Police Scotland over failing to provide them with safety equipment and ear protection. Another officer is pursuing legal action over 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 the force left them without adequate ear protection, leaving them exposed to a '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 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. However, it is claimed 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 hurt during the 2023 incident. Most the injuries were minor but 20 officers were later said to still be suffering from hearing problems, with a further officer injured after being hit by a firework in 2024. Video footage from 2023 showed officers in riot gear standing in a line while youths threw explosives at their feet. Officers also suffered minor injuries while responding to similar Bonfire Night disturbances in Glasgow and Dundee. SPF general secretary David Kennedy later said hearing damage could have been prevented if officers had been supplied with the appropriate protective gear. 'Some officers could actually lose their hearing as tinnitus gets worse over the years,' he added. Police Scotland confirmed that 21 claims have been raised relating to Bonfire Night incidents. Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: 'The safety of all our personnel is of the utmost importance during operational deployments. 'We will also continue to explore the procurement and distribution of new equipment to safeguard those on the front line.'
