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Scotsman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scottish bus drivers 'left at the mercy of violent thugs' as assaults skyrocket
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The SNP's 'soft-on-crime approach' is leaving bus drivers at the mercy of violence and antisocial behaviour, according to the Tories. Assaults and threats in Scotland's bus stations skyrocketed in 2024/25, just one year after the traffic death of bus driver Keith Rollinson in Elgin. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Police Scotland figures show call outs to assaults at Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station rose by 85 per cent from 20 in 2023/24 to 37 in 2024/25. Edinburgh Bus Station | JPI Media License In the same time period, assaults tripled at Dundee Bus Station and doubled at Dunfermline Bus Station. No city bus station saw a decrease in assaults over this 12-month period. Police call outs to threatening behaviour also increased by 50 per cent at Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, and increased at Edinburgh and Inverness bus stations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Liam Kerr MSP, the Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman, said the figures are evidence of the SNP's 'soft-on-crime approach' that is making life more dangerous for bus drivers. He says this is particularly worrying following the death of bus driver Keith Rollinson, who died of a cardiac arrest in hospital after being headbutted and repeatedly punched in February 2024. Bus driver Keith Rollinson, 58, died after the attack in February | Police Scotland A 16-year-old - who was 15 at the time of the assault - later admitted to culpable homicide. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Kerr said: 'The SNP's soft-touch approach to crime is making life more dangerous for bus users across Scotland. 'Assaults and antisocial behaviour on board, and at bus stations, is skyrocketing because offenders don't fear being caught or know they won't be property punished. 'This behaviour is threatening public safety and placing even more pressure on our already underfunded police. 'Only last year, we witnessed the tragic consequences of this spike in violent behaviour when Keith Rollinson, a bus driver in Elgin, was killed by a teenager while simply doing his job. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The SNP have finally listened to Scottish Conservative calls for free bus passes to be taken off the small minority of young people who abuse the privilege - it is vital that this is actioned immediately. 'Rather than leaving bus drivers and passengers at the mercy of violent offenders, it's time for SNP ministers to show they are serious about punishing loutish or violent behaviour.' Assaults and threatening behaviour at Scotland's city bus stations: Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station - assaults increased by 85 per cent from 20 in 2023/24 to 37 in 2024/25. Threats increased by 50 per cent from six in 2023/24 to nine in 2024/25. - assaults increased by 85 per cent from 20 in 2023/24 to 37 in 2024/25. Threats increased by 50 per cent from six in 2023/24 to nine in 2024/25. Dundee Bus Station - assaults tripled from two in 2023/24 to eight in 2024/25. Threats decreased from two to one. - assaults tripled from two in 2023/24 to eight in 2024/25. Threats decreased from two to one. Dunfermline Bus Station - assaults more than doubled from three in 2023/24 to seven in 2024/25. There were no recorded threats in either year. - assaults more than doubled from three in 2023/24 to seven in 2024/25. There were no recorded threats in either year. Aberdeen Bus Station - there were three assaults in 2023/24 and three again in 2024/25. There were two threats in 2023/24 and again in 2024/25. - there were three assaults in 2023/24 and three again in 2024/25. There were two threats in 2023/24 and again in 2024/25. Edinburgh Bus Station - there were four assaults in 2023/24 and four again in 2024/25. Threats increased from zero in 2023/24 to one in 2024/25. - there were four assaults in 2023/24 and four again in 2024/25. Threats increased from zero in 2023/24 to one in 2024/25. Inverness Bus Station - there were three assaults in 2023/24 and three again in 20224/25. Threats increased from one in 2023/24 to two in 2024/25. - there were three assaults in 2023/24 and three again in 20224/25. Threats increased from one in 2023/24 to two in 2024/25. Perth Bus Station - assaults increased from zero in 2023/24 to one in 2024/25, and threats decreased from one in 2023/24 to zero in 2024/25. A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: 'Whilst Scotland continues to be a safe place to live with recorded crime at once of the lowest levels since 1974 and down 40 per cent since 2006/07, any instances of antisocial behaviour are unacceptable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are investing a record £1.64 billion for policing this year - an increase of £90 million on 2024/25. 'Police Scotland and local authorities lead on antisocial behaviour interventions and have a range of options and powers available for preventing and tackling antisocial behaviour. 'We have also provided £156m since 2008 to support young people who are most at risk of being involved in violence, antisocial behaviour or crime.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Bus station assaults and threats 'skyrocket' across Scotland
The First Minister has already confirmed work is underway to develop a system that would strip under-22s of their free bus pass following repeated violent offending. But there are fears the measures are not being implemented quickly enough amid a rise in youth violence. The figures showed 79 police call outs for assaults and threats across seven cities in 2024-25, compared to 48 in the previous year, an increase of 65%. Police call outs to assaults at Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station rose by 85% from 20 in 2023-24 to 37 in 2024-25. Call outs for threats increased by 50% in Glasgow, from six in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 to nine in 2024-25. Meanwhile, assaults at Dundee Bus Station tripled and increased by 300% in the last year, with police called out out to eight assaults in 2024-25, up from two. Read more: Dunfermline Bus Station assaults more than doubled, up from three to seven in the last year - an increase of 133%. The number of assault call outs at bus stations in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Inverness remained the same during the year timeframe, with four in the capital and three each in Aberdeen and Inverness. While assaults increased in Perth, it was the only city to witness a reduction in threats, falling from two to one call out. The scale of the issue across the country could be far higher when bus stations in towns are included. Liam Kerr, justice spokesman for the Scottish Tories, warned the Scottish Government's efforts to crack down on repeat offenders must be scaled up. Last year, bus driver Keith Rollinson, 58, died after being seriously assaulted by a 15-year-old boy in Elgin, Moray. Mr Kerr said bus drivers and passengers were being left "at the mercy of violent offenders". Read more: He said: 'The SNP's soft-touch approach to crime is making life more dangerous for bus users across Scotland. 'Assaults and anti-social behaviour on board, and at bus stations, is skyrocketing because offenders don't fear being caught or know they won't be properly punished. 'This behaviour is threatening public safety and placing even more pressure on our already underfunded police. 'Only last year, we witnessed the tragic consequences of this spike in violent behaviour when Keith Rollinson, a bus driver in Elgin, was killed by a teenager, while simply doing his job. 'The SNP have finally listened to Scottish Conservative calls for free bus passes to be taken off the small minority of young people who abuse the privilege. It is vital that this is actioned immediately. 'Rather than leaving bus drivers and passengers at the mercy of violent offenders, it's time for SNP ministers to show they are serious about punishing loutish or violent behaviour.' In May, the First Minister said he was prepared to crack down on bus station assaults by youths. Mr Swinney said the vast majority of young Scots used their entitlement 'wisely and thoughtfully and effectively'. Representatives of bus operators from First Bus, Lothian buses and Stagecoach told a Holyrood committee earlier this year that the increase in anti-social behaviour at stations was proportionate to the rising level of passengers caused by the under-22s free travel scheme. However he said: 'We have to be prepared to tackled unacceptable behaviour.' The Scottish Government has sought to crack down on youth violence more widely following a spate of fatal knife attacks. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Whilst Scotland continues to be a safe place to live with recorded crime is at one of the lowest levels since 1974 and down 40% since 2006-07, any instances of anti-social behaviour are unacceptable. We are investing a record £1.64 billion for policing this year – an increase of £90 million on 2024-25. 'Police Scotland and local authorities lead on antisocial behaviour interventions and have a range of options and powers available for preventing and tackling antisocial behaviour. We have also provided £156 million since 2008 to support young people who are most at risk at being involved in violence, antisocial behaviour or crime. 'The Scottish Government invests £370 million. each year to provide free bus travel for over two million people in Scotland – including all children and young people under 22, eligible disabled people and everyone aged 60 and over.'
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Teen thug who killed bus driver will get free SNP bus pass on his release
The widow of a bus driver killed by a violent teenager has expressed fury that his attacker will have his SNP-Green free bus pass reinstated when he finishes his sentence. Former RAF electrical engineer Keith Rollinson, 58, died in hospital after a brutal assault by a drunken 15-year-old at a bus station in Elgin, Moray, last year. The boy was eligible for the Scottish Government travel scheme introduced in 2022, which allows Under-22s unlimited free travel on Scotland's buses. Now Mr Rollinson's wife Susan, 62, has called for the government to remove passes from those who abuse drivers. Her demands have been backed by the Confederation of Passenger Transport, which has also urged Ministers to consider sanctions. Mr Rollinson's killer, who will be around 21 when he is released, will be free to continue using his pass. Mother-of-two Mrs Rollinson hit out: 'The boy who killed my husband will be entitled to a free bus pass when he is released, even though he attacked and killed a bus driver and previously attacked another one. 'I need the SNP to listen to me, listen to the public. Something needs to change.' Her impassioned plea has prompted Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay to write to both Justice Secretary Angela Constance and Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop to call for an urgent rule change. He said: 'The passenger, now 16, was charged with murder but a plea deal resulted in him admitting a lesser charge of culpable homicide. 'Sue's pain was further compounded by your government's Under-25 sentencing guidelines, which meant that her husband's killer was sentenced to four years and four months in secure accommodation. This tragedy is one of many cases of serious violence inflicted by young people in possession of free bus passes.' He added: 'I would be grateful if you could give a clear commitment to remove bus passes from those who misuse them and provide a specific date on when this will happen.' The teenager – who cannot be named for legal reasons – attacked Mr Rollinson in February last year. The short sentence was imposed because of an early guilty plea but also because he was under 25 at the time of his conviction, making him subject to guidelines brought in by the Scottish Sentencing Council, set up by the SNP Government in 2022. The boy has been sent to a 'therapeutic' secure care unit in Paisley due to more SNP rules brought in last year which prevent offenders under 18 going to prison. MSPs agreed to consider suspending passes for those who abuse the system last year, but in an amendment backed by a number of parliamentarians the Scottish Greens removed mention of the bus scheme specifically. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: 'The Cabinet Secretary for Transport met Unite union representatives to confirm 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.'
Press and Journal
23-04-2025
- Press and Journal
Police searches, underage drinking, late night passengers: What happened when I spent the evening in Elgin bus station
For several years Elgin bus station has been seen as the focal point for the town's rising problems with anti-social behaviour. Stagecoach staff have described it as a 'no-go area' in previous summers amidst worries of teens from Buckie, Keith and Forres congregating there on Friday and Saturday nights. Concerns heightened further after a boy, who was just 15 at the time, started the fire that forced Poundland to move to a temporary home. And last year the worrying situation made national headlines following the tragic death of Stagecoach driver Keith Rollinson. A boy, who was 15 at the time of the attack in February 2024, was later sentenced to four years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to culpable homicide. In recent months the Press and Journal has spoken to Stagecoach drivers who say anti-social behaviour from youngsters continues to be an issue. Today the Elgin bus station remains a key focus from police and Moray Council staff doing patrols of the area. It's shortly after 6pm when I arrive at the bus station. It's reasonably mild for the time of year, which has clearly brought people into the streets. Walking into the bus station from towards Poundland the first sight I see are about eight teenagers, probably aged anywhere from 15 to 18. It's mainly boys with two girls. Three of them are holding bottles of Buckfast, which are passed around the group. It's clear they don't have much of a plan for the evening, other than hanging around the bus station. They keep drinking and smoking vapes for about the next hour or so. They're loud, but keep themselves to themselves without approaching other passengers. When they eventually leave at about 7.30pm in the direction of the St Giles Centre, one Stagecoach driver checks to see where they've gone. To a passenger waiting, he says: 'It amazes me, they move from that corner over there to a different corner down there. 'What's the fascination with this place? Surely they've got something better to do.' The rest of the bus station remains reasonably busy, in spells, throughout the evening. Passengers young and old, including teenagers, come and go without much fuss. Some youths appear to have been out at a sports club or the gym, some have clearly been working, others are just friends travelling home together. At one point an older man, clearly under the influence of something, staggers into the bus station. He tries to make conversation with some waiting passengers but doesn't cause any issues. Looking around the bus station area you can see groups of teenagers, anywhere from 13 or 14 up to 18 years old, wandering the streets. Some pass through the bus station, discussing their options of where to use their bus passes to head for the night, presumably unsatisfied with their options in Elgin. One says: 'How about Lossie? We could go to Lossie.' Another suggests: 'What about Lhanbryde? We could try there.' A third replies: 'Lhanbryde? Why would we want to go there?' In the end they decide Elgin is their best bet for the night and leave the bus station again. Other teenagers pitch up at the rear entrance to Virgin Money to congregate and chat. At about 8.30pm police pull up at the bus station and ask Stagecoach staff if they've seen a particular girl. They say she would have arrived off a bus from Buckie about 15 minutes previously. One Stagecoach driver says he saw her and points them in the direction of Tesco. Less than 10 minutes later, two other police officers park up at the bus station. This time they're just asking round passengers to make sure everything is fine. As you might expect, the bus station only tends to get busy as passengers arrive to wait for a bus or one pulls in to drop people off. After 9pm the buses appear to get more busy as a whole cross-section of society congregate to catch the last lifts home. One bus leaving for Pinefield, Manitoba and the south of Elgin leaves almost completely full of teenagers. Meanwhile, other youngsters continue to arrive at the bus station from outside the town eager to make plans for the evening. Three boys, aged between 14 and 16, come off a 35 bus, which has come from Macduff, Buckie and Lhanbryde among other places, don't know what their plans are. One asks: 'Right, where are we going? Should we go to Tesco?' Another replies: 'Oh, let's see if Domino's is open.' By the time the last bus for Buckie is leaving at about 10pm the bus station is the busiest it has been all night. I count 21 people boarding to head home for the evening. There are teenagers, workers, even a pensioner carrying a dog. Around the same time a fire engine pulls up, one fireman gets out with a torch and immediately inspects the area at the rear or Virgin Money. About an hour previously three boys were hanging out there. Not causing any fuss or creating any noise, just sitting together away from everyone else. After a quick inspection of the area, including in the bins, they join the Stagecoach passengers and head back into the night.
