Bus operators back calls for violent youths to have free travel passes revoked

Major bus operators have backed calls for the travel passes of under 22s who are repeatedly violent on public transport to be revoked.

It comes as Holyrood is set to debate the safety of Scottish bus drivers on Wednesday following the death of Keith Rollinson.

The Stagecoach driver was killed by a 15-year-old boy who had been told he couldn’t board the vehicle at the bus station in Elgin due to being intoxicated.

It was later revealed that he had previously assaulted another bus driver.

Scottish Labour is set to table a motion calling for the Scottish Government to remove individuals who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour from the list of those who can access concessionary bus passes.

Anas Sarwar said: “No bus driver or member of the public should be harassed or injured without those responsible bearing the consequences.

Anas Sarwar says, “No bus driver or member of the public should be harassed or injured without those responsible bearing the consequences.” Parliament TV

“With unions and workers raising the alarm and an 84% increase in reports of verbal or physical abuse over the past year, the need for action cannot be clearer.

“Most shockingly of all – Keith Rollinson, a 58-year-old bus driver from Elgin – was killed at work by a 15-year-old passenger.

“Enough is enough – it’s time that the Scottish Government wake up to the scale of the violence and intimidation that bus drivers face.

“That’s why Scottish Labour is holding a debate in parliament about the safety of bus drivers and is saying that under 22s that are found to have repeatedly acted violently on buses have their free bus passes revoked.

“Scottish Labour supports the concessionary scheme for under 22 bus travel, but we will not see this scheme abused by those who pose a risk to workers.

“Without taking action now, we risk signalling that bus drivers are fair game for abuse.

“It’s time to end this scandal, punish those who abuse bus drivers and keep workers safe.”

Linda Shields, director of First Bus Scotland Operations, said the company would like to see sanctions, such as the suspension or removal of the right to free travel, implemented.

“The safety of our staff and customers is our top priority, with safety measures and deterrents deployed on our buses across Greater Glasgow and Aberdeen”, she explained.

“Where criminal acts have taken place and are reported, these are also reported to the police to action. Where incidents are linked to the concessionary travel schemes, we would like to see sanctions such as the suspension or removal of the right to free travel.

Keith Rollinson was assaulted while working as a bus driver in Elgin. Police Scotland

“We are working with Transport Scotland and other stakeholders to ensure that a full and effective range of preventative measures and sanctions are in place to tackle antisocial and violent behaviour on the bus network and bring about positive changes for the benefit of staff and passengers.

“Anti-social and violent behaviour incidents have a marked impact on bus drivers and other frontline staff. Additionally, communities may lose vital local services that cannot be run due to operators taking action to protect staff. Vulnerable passengers may become isolated if they feel unsafe travelling on public transport.”

The Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland, which represents Stagecoach as well as other operators in Scotland, is also supporting calls for harsher punishments to be put in place for repeat offenders under the age of 22.

A spokesperson said: “CPT is working with Transport Scotland and other national and local stakeholders to ensure that a full and effective range of preventative measures and sanctions are in place to tackle antisocial behaviour on the bus network and bring about positive changes for the benefit of staff and passengers.

“This is a complex issue, involving Ministerial responsibilities across Transport, Justice and Education. We hope the upcoming findings and recommendations of the Scottish Government’s Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour reflects the concerns raised, and solutions proposed by the bus sector.

“CPT bus operator members always have the safety of staff and customers as their priority, with safety measures and deterrents deployed on buses operating throughout Scotland. Where criminal acts have taken place and are reported, these are also reported to the police to action.”

Transport Scotland has confirmed that it is working closely with operators, unions, and other stakeholders to “develop further sanctions and preventative measures.”

The government body is currently exploring a new behavioural code for passengers and the temporary suspension of travel cards.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We have the greatest sympathy for bus drivers who are at the sharp end of anti-social behaviour from a small minority of bus passengers. Everyone should be able to go to their work without fear of abuse.

“That’s why the Cabinet Secretary for Transport met Unite representatives last month to discuss the safety of bus drivers and confirmed that she is committed to ensuring a full range of options are available to support the police, local authorities and bus operators to tackle this issue.

“The vast majority of passengers travelling by bus behave appropriately, including people of all ages using their free bus entitlement to travel. None of this would be possible without bus drivers keeping communities connected.

“However, there is a minority of people, of all ages, who abuse their entitlement, including to commit offences, and which can result in serious harm to bus employees and passengers. That is simply not acceptable.

“Bus operators can already restrict access to their services in line with their own conditions of carriage and we are working with operators, unions and other stakeholders, to develop further sanctions and preventative measures. This includes development of a new behaviour code for passengers and a process for temporary suspension of concessionary travel cards.”