As a rise in antisocial behaviour (ASB) on and around buses was again debated recently in the Scottish Parliament, Lothian Operations Director Willie Hamilton insists the issue should be seen as “not as a bus problem but as a societal issue”.
Ministers in Holyrood called for the removal from persistent offenders of free bus passes issued as part of Scotland’s Young Persons’ Free Travel Scheme.
Mr Hamilton, who says Lothian supports that option being explored, confirmed that the operator’s soon-to-be-completed 2024 ASB statistics would approximately mirror those of 12 months earlier, when the issue’s reaching Parliament last made major headlines, although he notes a trend for more broken window incidents.
He says Lothian’s data, particularly as drivers are more likely to report incidents now, allows better cooperation with local police and councils to combat the problem.
Mr Hamilton adds that a distinction should be made between ASB such as playing loud music and criminal behaviour such as assault, the latter being caused by a “small minority.”
He also stresses his faith in the free travel for under-22s scheme as a whole.
“I use my kids as an example,” he says. “Unlike me at that age, they are quite happy to go and jump on a bus, so it becomes habit and, when they become fare-paying passengers, Scotland will see the wider benefits in years to come as that modal shift happens.”
