Want to help?

Click here to find out how you can help

 

Find Us On Facebook

facebook01

Contact Us

Thousands of anti-social behaviour incidents on ScotRail trains since SNP’s nationalisation

Over 2,300 incidents of anti-social behaviour and vandalism have been reported on ScotRail trains since the SNP Government nationalised it in 2022, the Scottish Conservatives can reveal today.
 
A Freedom of Information response to the party confirms the number of incidents each year, with close to 900 reported in 2023-24 and over 700 more incidents reported last year, as well as in 2022-23.
 
British Transport Figures have also revealed that the number of reported sex crimes on the rail network rose by two-thirds over the last five years, with 1,000 anti-social behaviour incidents recorded within Scotland’s train stations in the last year.
 
Shadow transport secretary Sue Webber says the figures are “deeply concerning” and further proof that the SNP’s “botched” nationalisation of ScotRail is continuing to deliver a poor experience for passengers.
 
She says that these incidents will only put more people off travelling by public transport if SNP ministers do not tackle the anti-social behaviour “crisis” on Scotland’s trains.
 
Sue has urged SNP ministers to show some common sense and deliver a rail service that keeps passengers safe as well as being reliable.
 
Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber MSP said: “These figures are deeply concerning and more proof that the SNP’s botched nationalisation of ScotRail is continuing to deliver a poor experience for passengers.
 
“The SNP’s soft-touch approach to justice has left ScotRail staff and passengers increasingly vulnerable to this surge in incidents of anti-social behaviour. There must be consequences for those who behave in this way.
 
“Anti-social behaviour doesn’t just put staff and passengers at risk, it also puts people off using public transport.
 
“If SNP ministers are serious about getting people out of their cars and onto public transport then they need to urgently tackle this anti-social behaviour crisis on our trains.
 
“It’s time for SNP ministers to show some common sense and deliver rail services that are safe, reliable and affordable for passengers across the country.”
 
Notes:
 
2,310 incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour have been reported on ScotRail since it was nationalised in April 2022. 715 incidents were reported in 2022-23, 889 incidents were reported in 2023-24, and 706 incidents were reported in 706 2024-25. (Scottish Conservative FOI, Available on Request). 
 
Violent crimes on the Scottish rail network have increased. The British Transport Police figures, revealed by showed the number of reported sex crimes went up by two thirds in the five years between 2018/19 and 2023/24. The figures, submitted to the Scottish Railways Policing Committee’s most recent meeting in November, also showed cases of violence increased by 28 per cent over the period, by 78 to 356. (The Scotsman, 24 February 2025, link). 
 
Anti-social behaviour at railway stations rose almost 1,000 in the last year. British Transport Police figures, obtained through freedom of information requests, revealed there were 971 recorded anti-social behaviour incidents at stations across Scotland. Almost a third of all anti-social behaviour incidents occurred at Glasgow Queen Street, Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket. (The Herald, 29 January 2025, link). 
 
RMT and ASLEF have previously spoken out against rising anti-social behaviour on trains. Kevin Lindsay of ASLEF said: “Staff assaults and assaults on passengers come against a context of cuts to British Transport Police budgets over recent years, more lone working on trains and unstaffed stations.” (Daily Record, 19 March 2024, link).