Bus pass backlash: Young people 'abusing' scheme in Glasgow

There are concerns of a free bus pass backlash across Scotland with young people coming into the city centre of Glasgow and causing trouble.

Free travel on buses was introduced by the Scottish Government in January for those up to the age of 22.

Ahead of the scheme's first birthday next month, Clyde 1 is speaking to people working in the city centre claiming they are seeing some in vulnerable situations.

"We have had runaways from Edinburgh and Ayr who've come to Glasgow on the bus"

John Barclay from Glasgow Street Aid helps injured people coming out of clubs and wandering the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.

He said: "Since the scheme was introduced more and more young people are travelling into the city centre.

"It has caused a few problems because young kids are bored and they decide to make up games and the latest one is who can go missing for the longest before being brought back.

"We have had runaways from Edinburgh and Ayr who've come to Glasgow on the bus.

"Some of these kids are from care homes as well and the care homes are reporting them as missing."

John also claims he and his team have had to help people from as far away as Aberdeen and Dundee.

"Once they are in town - often with 20 of their friends - they will just sit and drink"

Rebecca Blair co-founded Glasgow Street Aid two years ago and tells Clyde 1 she once found a 9-year-old child under the influence of drugs.

"The majority of these kids are drinking and a lot of the time they are on spirits.

"They will start off with just one bottle or one can but once they are in town - often with 20 of their friends - they will just sit and drink.

"It makes them very vulnerable."

There are concerns this is a growing problem in other parts of Scotland too - with one bus operator stopping running services in and out of Kilmarnock bus station earlier in the year because of violence and disorder.

"Youths are jumping from stop to stop and taking the anti-social behaviour with them"

Graham Boyd is an independent councillor for Kilmarnock East and Hurlford and claims there are rising levels of anti-social behaviour across town centres in Ayrshire.

He said: "Some young people are not using this scheme responsibly.

"There have been instances of anti-social behaviour between Kilmarnock and Darvel.

"Youths are jumping from stop to stop and taking the anti-social behaviour with them.

"They might get off at one stop, jump back on and take their trouble to another stop - if the free bus travel wasn't there then that would not be happening."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “There is no evidence to suggest that there has been a rise in youth crime in Scottish cities as a result of the provision of free bus passes to people under the age of 22.

“Free bus passes help reduce social inequality, provide better access to work, education and leisure and give younger generations a better start in life.”

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