National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons antisocial behaviour monitoring: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for:

1. If there has been a rise in antisocial behaviour, on Stagecoach buses in East Ayrshire, since the introduction of the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons.

2. Is the Scottish Government actively monitoring instances of any antisocial behaviour linked to the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons?

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested, as doing so would be a breach of GDPR regulations. Therefore, we encourage you to contact Stagecoach directly for any inquiries.

In relation to the second element of your request, Transport Scotland officials are working closely with stakeholders, including the bus industry, to develop specific actions to tackle antisocial behaviour on the bus network. Alongside this, officials attend the Bus Antisocial Behaviour meetings with bus operators and Police Scotland, most recently in January and April, where discussion focused on card suspension and a behavioural code, as well as the wider prevention methods including school education materials, data gathering, best practice, and Safer Transport Officers.

Bus operators can already restrict access to their services in line with their own conditions of carriage and Transport Scotland are working closely with relevant stakeholders to develop further effective, appropriate and enforceable deterrents to tackle antisocial behaviour on the bus network.

You may be interested to know that the Scottish Government commissioned an independent working group to undertake an in-depth review of antisocial behaviour looking for a sustainable approach to preventing and tackling antisocial behaviour including improved support for victims. This was published on Tuesday 25th February and is available at Report of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour. The review findings include some of the issues that you have mentioned. The Scottish Government is considering the findings and will respond in due course continuing to focus on supporting local community.

Police Scotland and local authorities lead on interventions, and have a range of options and powers available for preventing and tackling antisocial and offending behaviour.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.