Background to the Bill
The Bill originated from a public debate around the need for a response to a number of high-profile public order incidents in Scotland in recent years involving the use of fireworks by the public against police and fire service officers.iPolice Scotland news release: Man jailed for throwing firework at Police Scotland officer during Glasgow Irish Republican March (Oct 2020): https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2020/october/man-jailed-for-throwing-firework-at-police-scotland-officer-during-glasgow-irish-republican-march/ There was also a desire to address the discharge of pyrotechnics at sporting events, e.g. football matches.iiBBC Scotland News: Flares and smoke bombs: The ugly side of the beautiful game (31 Jan 2016): https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-35402735
In 2017, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service considered how to coordinate a joint response to incidents involving the misuse of fireworks.