NATS ministers must “end the scandal” of bus drivers facing violence from gangs of thuggish youths, Anas Sarwar has demanded.
The Scottish Labour leader made the call ahead of a Holyrood vote on Wednesday on a scheme to take free bus passes off misbehaving thugs.
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Mr Sarwar said: “Enough is enough — it’s time that the Scottish government woke up to the scale of the violence and intimidation that bus drivers face.”
Free bus travel for under-22s was first introduced by the Scottish Government back in January 2022, having been pushed forward by the Scottish Greens.
And official figures estimate it will cost around £200million over the next financial year.
Scottish Labour’s call follows a survey by the Unite union — which found the free passes were fuelling a rise in bad behaviour.
More than eight in ten drivers said they faced abuse at work over the last year.
The union said the number of incidents has “increased with the scheme’s extension”.
And the issue of anti-social behaviour on buses reached national attention after the death of Elgin bus driver Keith Rollinson.
He died following an assault after refusing to let a “noticeably intoxicated” teenager on board.
Last month, a court heard how the 15-year-old “rained punches” down on him at the bus station in the St Giles Road area in February.
MSPs will be asked to back a motion saying Holyrood is “deeply grieved” by Mr Rollinson’s death and to note the “serious concerns” on violence against bus drivers.
It will call on the SNP to “remove access to concessionary bus passes from individuals who repeatedly carry out antisocial behaviour”.
Mr Sarwar added: “Scottish Labour supports the concessionary scheme for under-22 bus travel but we won’t see this scheme abused by those who pose a risk to workers.”
Cases of violence on buses has increased in recent years with Lothian Buses in Edinburgh having to be diverted away from problem areas.
And buses in Edinburgh were targeted by thugs throwing rocks last year.
Transport Scotland said: “Bus operators can already restrict access to their services in line with their own conditions of carriage.
“We are working to develop further sanctions — including a process for temporary suspension of concessionary travel cards.”
