Scotland’s Minister for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, has addressed suggestions made in the Scottish Parliament that the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme had led to an increase in antisocial behaviour on and around buses.
The Scottish Parliament was debating a motion raised on 14 December by Conservative MSP Graham Simpson around concerns that free travel for under-22s had spawned antisocial incidents on board and was facilitating journeys to other areas to carry out similar behaviour.
The representative for Central Scotland also noted calls for the perpetrators to face removal of the entitlement.
Ms Hyslop said she did not believe such an intervention would be possible but added she would investigate what could be done.
Her comments came after earlier the same day attending a launch for publication of the Scottish Government’s year-one evaluation of the scheme, where the landmark of 100 million free journeys for under-22s was also celebrated.
Mr Simpson noted in Parliament that the scheme, which began in January 2022, had been a success overall but linked it to incidents of physical and verbal abuse, and vandalism.
He also cited the Scottish Government’s “Behaviour in Scottish schools: research report 2023”, which states: “The ability of young people to travel for free on buses had, in some cases, led to young people travelling to other areas of the city to take part in fights or meeting up on buses and engaging in anti-social behaviour. LA (local authority) representatives also raised safeguarding concerns that young people may be travelling far from their homes to meet with people without their parents’ knowledge.”
He said that between 3-5 November, Lothian Buses suffered £1,700 worth of broken windows in Edinburgh. He also said that Livingstone councillors claimed the under-22 free bus pass scheme had “fuelled a rise in disorder”, with youngsters travelling from Edinburgh and Fife “intent on causing trouble”.
After referring to other similar examples, he urged the Government to take action, noting that the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons (Scotland) Order 2021 allows for ministers to remove a travel card “in such other circumstances as they may determine”.
He says: “Lothian Buses keeps figures, which show that there has been a significant increase in antisocial behaviour since the introduction of the scheme. It is at record levels throughout the country.”
Daniel Johnson, Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern, added the scheme had “led to the phenomenon of young people travelling far and wide in order to carry out antisocial behaviour”.
Sharon Dowey, Conservative MSP for South Scotland, agrees: “There is no doubt that antisocial behaviour on buses has increased dramatically since the free bus travel scheme was introduced.”
After hearing of the issues, Ms Hyslop began by highlighting the benefits that, according to the year-one report, free travel for under-22s had delivered, including that it was reducing travel costs and encouraging modal shift away from cars.
However, she adds; “There is also a real issue in respect of how and when entitlement would be removed, and I do not believe that it would be appropriate for our bus drivers to do that.
“I assure members that I have asked officials to look at what temporary digital blocking measures could be used, but I understand that that would require police time and co-operation on identification of offending individuals, increased administrative time and expertise, and technological fixes that are not yet apparent.
“Nonetheless, I undertake to advise members what might be possible, but I also … want to be clear that it would not be age-specific, because antisocial behaviour occurs in the population generally.
“In addition, the legislation underpinning the current national concession travel scheme does not provide a clear mechanism for consideration of removal of travel cards for antisocial behaviour. “
She adds: “It is required that each case be considered on its own merits, but given the nature of the scheme and the original purpose of the powers, which did not include dealing with antisocial behaviour, there will be limits to what can be done.”
However, she concludes by saying: “I will continue to look at what might be possible and appropriate in providing a deterrent or sanction, including looking into some of the suggestions that have been made by colleagues.”
