 Cunninghame North MSP, Allan Wilson, has received assurances from British
Transport Police chiefs that problems of hooliganism and vandalism on the
Glasgow-Largs rail service, and other Ayrshire routes, are being tackled.
In a new development, the Transport Police are to designate a Community
Officer on the Glasgow-Largs route. He will work closely with elected
representatives, community councils and others to identify trouble spots and
individual offenders as part of an effort to pre-empt trouble on the
railways.
British Transport Police are also to work with Strathclyde Police, both
uniformed and plain-clothes, to increase their presence on Ayrshire
services, which are now recognised as being the worst affected by
behavioural problems in the West of Scotland.
Mr Wilson said after meeting Regional Commander Ronnie Mellis and his senior
officers dealing with the Ayrshire routes: "I have no doubt that the
problems are recognised and are being taken seriously. There have been 26
offences committed on the Glasgow-Largs route since the start of the year,
both on-train and at stations. That is quite unacceptable.
"I think the Community Officer is a potentially useful idea. Local people
often know who is responsible for hanging about stations and making life
unpleasant for others. It is possible to build up quite a clear picture of
when and where incidents are likely to occur."
Mr Wilson said that he would continue to press Strathclyde Passenger
Transport on the issue of staffing of trains and stations. He said: "After
my discussions with the Transport Police, I am surer than ever that
de-staffing of trains and stations makes no economic or social sense. It
results in huge revenue losses as well as passenger insecurity and
vandalism.
"British Transport Police and Strathclyde Police will mount a number of
operations on Ayrshire routes over the next few weeks and I will be keeping
in close touch with the effectiveness of these measures."
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