Man arrested after 200kg fireworks haul found inside van in Edinburgh city centre
Police were acting on intelligence when they stopped the van
A man has been arrested after being caught with more than £5,000 worth of fireworks in Edinburgh city centre.
Acting on intelligence, police stopped a van travelling along London Road at around 9:30pm. Inside, they found 200kg of fireworks, with some capable of firing 555 individual rockets.
The 39-year-old, who is due to appear in court at a later date, was arrested and charged in connection with possession of fireworks in a public place.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson said: “There was huge potential for these fireworks to be distributed around the city for the purposes of causing disorder. The misuse of fireworks presents a significant risk to the public and emergency personnel, and can result in serious injury, fires and damage to properties.”
Dubbed Operation Amberlight, Scotland's biggest police operation since President Donald Trump’s visit is currently underway in a bid to crackdown on Bonfire Night disorder.
Firework Control Zones have been put in place across 14 areas of the city to combat noise and anti-social behaviour. It is illegal to set off fireworks in these zones, including on private property, until November 8.
The Chief Superintendent added: “It is an offence to buy, possess, or use fireworks without a valid licence and anyone caught doing so may face fines, seizure of items and potential prosecution.
“Officers will continue to carry out enquiries in the Edinburgh area to detect and disrupt the illegal sale or use of fireworks, and we remain committed to working with partner agencies to ensure everyone’s safety.
“We rely on intelligence from the local communities, and anyone with information about planned disorder or concerns about fireworks is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.”