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Fireworks withdrawn from sale at Dundee supermarkets after Kirkton riots

The aftermath of the Kirkton riots, Dundee
Councils can make it illegal to set off fireworks in certain areas. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson.

Fireworks have been withdrawn from sale at all Asda, Tesco and Morrisons stores in Dundee after riots in Kirkton.

Pyrotechnics were thrown at police officers and vehicles during a night of disorder on Halloween.

On Tuesday, Joe FitzPatrick – the MSP for Dundee City West – contacted Asda, which has a store in Kirkton, asking for fireworks sales to be halted, which they agreed to do with “immediate effect”.

A spokeswoman for Morrisons also confirmed sales had been suspended in the city.

Meanwhile North east MSP Michael Marra was told by Tesco it would withdraw fireworks from its Dundee stores.

A police officer suffered minor injuries after being targeted on Gillburn Road, while several locals told of having fireworks thrown at their cars on Balgowan Avenue.

 Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick.
Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick. Image: Kris Miller/DC Thomson.

A representative of Asda told Mr FitzPatrick: “Following last night’s events, we’ve taken the decision to remove fireworks from sale from all three of our Dundee stores for the duration of this sales period.

“We will be contacting the stores to have them removed from sale.”

Sainsbury’s, which has a large store on Tom Johnston Road, ended the sale of fireworks in all its supermarkets in 2019.

The SNP MSP told The Courier he was shocked to see what happened.

‘This move will be welcomed across the city’

He said: “Clearly everyone will be keen to ensure that there is no repetition of such conduct over the coming days in Kirkton or elsewhere in the city in the lead up to fireworks night.

“This morning I reached out to Asda to ask whether they might consider withdrawing fireworks from sale given the circumstances.

“I’m pleased that Asda have agreed to remove fireworks from sale at all three of their stores in the city, including their Kirkton store.

The clear-up operation in Kirkton
The clear-up operation in Kirkton. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson.

“I appreciate that they were under no obligation to do so and I’m sure that this move will be welcomed across the city.”

Mr FitzPatrick said there was no suggestion the fireworks used in attacks on police were bought from Asda.

He added: “Given that fireworks are still on sale in other stores in the city, I’m reaching out to other retailers to ask them to follow Asda’s lead, so that we can minimise the risk of a repeat of what we have seen in Kirkton.

“Shona Robison MSP and I have also been in touch with Police Scotland this morning to thank officers who attended and were put at risk due to the reckless actions of what appears to be a small minority.”

A police van outside the Asda Kirkton store during previous anti-social behaviour
A police van outside the Asda Kirkton store during previous anti-social behaviour. Image: James Simpson/DC Thomson.

City council leader John Alexander earlier called for all shops in Dundee to end sales, as residents revealed their fears over the forthcoming Bonfire Night.

He posted on Twitter: “I’ve also been in contact with local supermarkets, as I want to see the sale of fireworks suspended across Dundee.

“Some may claim that to be a knee-jerk reaction but at this point, I think it a necessary measure to address genuine fear, alarm and concern.”

Lidl and Aldi did not respond to requests for comment.

Police outside St Paul's RC Academy during the Kirkton riots
Police outside St Paul’s RC Academy. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Counters selling fireworks and sparklers are a common sight in supermarkets around Bonfire Night.

Currently, anyone over the age of 18 can purchase them in Scotland prior to the introduction of the Scottish Government’s licensing scheme in 2023.

The new law will make it a criminal offence to buy or use fireworks without a licence, or to supply fireworks to a person without a licence.

It will also be an offence to give fireworks or pyrotechnic articles to a child, or buy them on behalf of a child.

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