First Bus warns schools about pupils not using face coverings

A bus company has threatened to report pupils to police over complaints they are refusing to wear face masks on board its vehicles.

First Bus claims in a letter to schools in Glasgow that a "significant number'' of students have been flouting the rules designed to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The firm said they are putting drivers' lives at risk and will be reporting them to Police Scotland if "further breaches of the wearing of face coverings are identified''.

Duncan Cameron, operations director, added: "In the main, we are seeing a high compliance of passengers wearing face coverings and we remain confident that the public will do the right thing and wear a face covering on board public transport to protect themselves and others.

"However, First Glasgow were made aware of an issue in regards to some school pupils failing to comply with Scottish Government guidance around the mandatory use of face coverings on public transport whilst using our regular services to get to and from school over the last few weeks.

"The feedback from both drivers and local stakeholders was then investigated by our staff who carried out spot checks and confirmed an issue on a small number of services in the city.

"We have therefore taken the immediate action to contact all schools across our Greater Glasgow area network to plea for them to work in partnership with us to help stamp out this issue before it becomes any worse.''

He added most schools which had been contacted had tried to be helpful.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: "Our schools will continue to reinforce key Scottish Government advice and guidance to their pupils and the importance of following rules relating to face coverings both in schools and on school and public transport to help suppress the virus.''

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