Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The Scottish government has declined to provide assurances that a teenager responsible for the death of a bus driver will be barred from receiving a free bus pass following his release from custody. This issue arose during a session at Holyrood’s transport committee, which coincided with the government proposing new measures aimed at revoking passes from passengers who behave improperly.
Keith Rollinson, aged 58, died after an assault at Elgin bus station, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons admitted culpable homicide in 2024. Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie explained to MSPs that the forthcoming rules would only apply to incidents occurring on buses themselves, not at bus stations, and therefore he could not confirm that the teenager involved in Rollinson’s case would lose his bus pass. Nonetheless, Fairlie expressed his expectation that individuals convicted of serious offences would see their passes revoked.
The Conservative Party criticized Fairlie’s remarks, calling them “shameful,” and questioned both the legislation’s effectiveness and whether it could be finalized before the parliamentary recess ahead of the elections. Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden, who highlighted the Rollinson case in committee, pressed Fairlie for firm guarantees that the teenager, potentially eligible for release from secure accommodation this year, would not benefit from a free bus pass upon release. Fairlie responded that discussing the specifics of Rollinson’s case was “inappropriate and disrespectful,” a comment Lumsden later described as an “affront” to the family, insisting that the public expects criminals to face consequences rather than what he termed “pathetic handwringing by SNP ministers.”
Last year, Fairlie committed to presenting secondary legislation to allow Transport Scotland to suspend or withdraw free bus passes from problematic passengers. However, the process was delayed again recently after the minister revealed that a supporting code of conduct for bus travel had yet to be completed. The Conservatives accused him of providing a “masterclass in incompetence” amid concerns the legislation may not pass before the parliament adjourns in March. In tabling the proposed changes, Fairlie specified that the code of conduct would only govern behaviour on buses, excluding bus stands, stops, or stations. He emphasized that the intent was to enhance passenger safety by targeting a small fraction of cardholders who engage in antisocial conduct. While hoping that very few people would lose their passes, he acknowledged the legislation was not a comprehensive solution for antisocial behaviour in society.
Opposition MSPs expressed skepticism about the proposed changes. Green MSP Mark Ruskell questioned the legislation’s deterrent effect, pointing out that suspending a free pass “just means that their entitlement card is suspended. They could quite easily walk onto a bus and pay a fare.” Labour MSP Monica Lennon highlighted that many Scots feel unsafe using buses and argued the government missed an opportunity to enforce stronger measures preventing criminals from receiving free travel passes. She also accused some SNP members of “mansplaining” aspects of the proposed legislation during committee discussions. Additionally, convener Edward Mountain criticized the government for failing to submit the legislation promptly and found the draft code of conduct “poor,” “unhelpful,” and raising more questions than answers, voicing doubts about its readiness before the upcoming parliamentary break.
Representing Unite the Union, Dougie Maguire described the conditions faced by bus drivers as frequently resembling a “warzone,” with reports of on-bus smoking and vaping, spitting, vandalism, and even weapons being thrown. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live programme, Maguire noted the union’s support for both the new legislation and free travel for under-22s but stressed that additional efforts are necessary to improve overall safety for public transport workers and passengers alike
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.