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Bonfire Night 2023: Details of Edinburgh's 12 'dispersal zones' to combat crime and anti-social behaviour

Ian Swanson
·2-min read
The Niddrie area of Edinburgh was locked down after a serious disturbance on Bonfire Night 2022. Police said around 100 youths were involved in throwing fireworks, the window of a fire engine was smashed and a police vehicle was attacked by people throwing bricks. (Photo: Dan Barker/PA Wire)
The Niddrie area of Edinburgh was locked down after a serious disturbance on Bonfire Night 2022. Police said around 100 youths were involved in throwing fireworks, the window of a fire engine was smashed and a police vehicle was attacked by people throwing bricks. (Photo: Dan Barker/PA Wire)

Bonfire Night saw mayhem on the streets of Edinburgh ast year as gangs of youths hurled bricks and petrol bombs, smashed windows and barricaded roads.

Niddrie, Sighthill, Drylaw and Pilton suffered the worst. Footage shared online showed youths aiming fireworks at response vehicles and passing cars. Two police officers were treated for head injuries and police later confirmed 14 people had been charged with various offences including breach of the peace, assault, theft and firework related offences.

The Gracemount dispersal zone covers a large area, also taking in Kaimes, Burdiehouse and Southhouse. (Photo: supplied)
The Gracemount dispersal zone covers a large area, also taking in Kaimes, Burdiehouse and Southhouse. (Photo: supplied)

Dispersal zones are set up in a bid to help prevent anti-social behaviour around Guy Fawkes Night and this year 12 such zones have been designated in the hope of avoiding a repeat of last year’s scenes.

Dipsersal zones allow the police to order groups of two or more people to disperse if they have reasonable grounds to believe their presence or behaviour is causing or is likely to cause alarm or distress to any members of the public. The police can also order people who do not live in the area to leave and can ban them from returning for up to 24 hours.

Scroll through to see the details of where the dispersal zones will be. They will be in force from Friday, November 3, until Sunday, November 5.

The Niddrie dispersal zone also includes Newcraighall, Fort Kinnaird and Craigmillar. (Photo: Rebecca O'Reilly)
The Niddrie dispersal zone also includes Newcraighall, Fort Kinnaird and Craigmillar. (Photo: Rebecca O'Reilly)
The Moredun dispersal zone also extends to the Royal Infirmary at Little France and part of The Inch. (Photo: supplied)
The Moredun dispersal zone also extends to the Royal Infirmary at Little France and part of The Inch. (Photo: supplied)
The boundaries of the Oxgangs dispersal take in Oxgangs and Colinton Mains. (Photo: Rebecca O'Reilly)
The boundaries of the Oxgangs dispersal take in Oxgangs and Colinton Mains. (Photo: Rebecca O'Reilly)
The Gorgie dispersal zone covers both Gorgie and Dalry. (Photo: Rebecca O'Reilly)
The Gorgie dispersal zone covers both Gorgie and Dalry. (Photo: Rebecca O'Reilly)
The Saughton dispersal zone stretches from Stenhouse to Sighthill, taking in Saughton, Parkhead and Broomhouse. (Photo: supplied)
The Saughton dispersal zone stretches from Stenhouse to Sighthill, taking in Saughton, Parkhead and Broomhouse. (Photo: supplied)
The Pilton dispersal zone stretches from Ferry Road to the waterfront, taking in West Pilton and part of Granton. (Photo: supplied)
The Pilton dispersal zone stretches from Ferry Road to the waterfront, taking in West Pilton and part of Granton. (Photo: supplied)
The Gilmerton dispersal zone covers a large area running from Liberton High School south, bounded by Lasswade Road, Gilmerton Road, Ferniehill Drive, Old Dalkeith Road and the City Bypass. (Photo: supplied)
The Gilmerton dispersal zone covers a large area running from Liberton High School south, bounded by Lasswade Road, Gilmerton Road, Ferniehill Drive, Old Dalkeith Road and the City Bypass. (Photo: supplied)
The Portobello dispersal zone runs from King's Road right along the front to the Musselburgh, taking in everything east of Sir Harry Lauder Road and north of Milton Road East. (Photo: supplied)
The Portobello dispersal zone runs from King's Road right along the front to the Musselburgh, taking in everything east of Sir Harry Lauder Road and north of Milton Road East. (Photo: supplied)
The Muirhouse dispersal zone stretches from Ferry Road to the sea. (Photo: supplied)
The Muirhouse dispersal zone stretches from Ferry Road to the sea. (Photo: supplied)
The Liberton dispersal zone stretches from Cameron Toll to Alnwickhill and Howdenhall, taking in Liberton and part of The Inch. (Photo: supplied)
The Liberton dispersal zone stretches from Cameron Toll to Alnwickhill and Howdenhall, taking in Liberton and part of The Inch. (Photo: supplied)
The Craigentinny dispersal zone takes in Craigentinny, Lochend and Restalrig. (Photo: supplied)
The Craigentinny dispersal zone takes in Craigentinny, Lochend and Restalrig. (Photo: supplied)