Football-style bans could stop thugs travelling by train

Call by rail union ++ Network a ‘magnet’ for yobs

ANTISOCIAL behaviour on Scotland’s trains and in stations should be hit with football-style banning orders, rail unions are demanding.

Scotland organiser for the RMT rail union Mick Hogg said trains have become a ‘magnet’ for thuggish, intimidating and abusive behaviour.

He told Holyrood’s transport committee there were not enough police officers aboard and ‘people will use Scotland’s railway in order to cause absolute havoc’.

Mr Hogg said antisocial behaviour is also worsening according to staff on the nationalised rail network, with vulnerable passengers increasingly fearful of travelling by train.

There were 47,526 crimes recorded on the railway in Scotland over the past decade, British Transport Police figures up to 2021 show, with an estimated 31,185 relating to violent, antisocial or abusive incidents.

Mr Hogg said: ‘What we need is more legislation in order to address the antisocial behaviour, because the British Transport Police are telling us that they don’t have the powers.’

Calling for new laws to allow offenders to be stopped from travelling by train, he added: ‘If we can actually ban those people who are responsible for antisocial behaviour from the football and the shopping centre, then why can’t we ban them from Scotland’s railways?’

Violent football fans can be barred from attending matches through a Football Banning Order from the courts. They can last for up to ten years and prevent offenders from entering every UK stadium.

Mr Hogg added: ‘The British Transport Police have told us on countless occasions, when it comes to juveniles, they take them back to their parents and, within hours, the same juveniles are back at the train station causing absolute havoc.

‘We need legislation to ensure those responsible are dealt with robustly.’

With fears ScotRail could close more ticket offices, Mr Hogg said a lack of staff was ‘inextricably linked’ to soaring antisocial behaviour. He added: ‘The most vulnerable people within society are very reluctant to use Scotland’s railway because the antisocial behaviour rate issue is out of control.

‘I don’t want to be the one to say to the Transport Secretary that someone’s lost their life as a result of antisocial behaviour.’

Robert Samson, from the passenger representative Transport Focus Scotland, said many people had concerns about the impact of ticket office closures on personal security.

Tory transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘It’s shocking that antisocial behaviour on trains has escalated to the point where there are fears that someone could lose their life.

‘British Transport Police say they can’t understand why powers to tackle this kind of threat are available elsewhere, but the SNP Government won’t back them. It’s typical of the lack of action and improvement since the SNP-Green Government took over ScotRail.’

Transport Secretary Kevin Stewart said: ‘The Scottish Government is open to potential routes for banning people who commit antisocial behaviour on railways, including the use of measures available under current antisocial behaviour legislation, and the extent to which any additional powers or offences might be desirable.’

‘Assaults are on the increase’