Greater Glasgow

Vandalism Causes Bus Company to Consider Withdrawing Services

First, Glasgow’s largest bus operator, is seriously considering diverting services from problem areas, following a spate of vandalism attacks on 3 March which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to buses.

During the course of one day, 50 bus windows were broken across the city, 14 of which occurred in Summerston in Glasgow’s West End. Services 54 and 61 were particularly affected, with 14 windows being broken between 6pm and 10pm. Fortunately there were no injuries to staff or passengers on these occasions.

Alan Pert, Security Manager at First in Glasgow said “We are disgusted by the foolish and anti social behaviour of the youths causing these problems and would urge them to think seriously about the possible consequences of their actions. We are monitoring the situation closely and any more incidents in Summerston will result in us diverting services away from problem areas after 6pm. This is not a decision we take lightly and it is unfortunate that the wider travelling public has to suffer as a result of this. However the safety of our passengers and driving staff remains paramount”.

First are continuing to work closely with Strathclyde Police, Glasgow City Council and Starthclyde Passsenger Tranosirt to address this problem. Police will be stepping up resources in the Summerston area and First’s security staff and plain clothes police officers will be boarding buses with a view to identifying and apprehending troublemakers.

First also play an active role in Summerston’s Anti-Vandalism Forum which is attended by representatives from Strathclyde Police, various departments within Glasgow City Council, Network Rail, local schools, businesses and councillors, with the aim being to develop a co-ordinated strategy to tackle head on the problem of vandalism and crime in the area.

“First Football” after school activities are also running in John Paul Academy in Summerston, which aim to get young people off the streets and give them a positive alternative to vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

If anyone has any information which could help the Police with their investigations, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Notes to Editors
· Please refer to press releases “First Leading Way in Cutting Down Crime” and First’s Drivers Give Vandalism the Red Card”, issued on 26 February and 3 March respectively for more information.
· With a fleet of just under 1,000 buses, First in Glasgow has approximately 8,000 bus windows broken every year - an average of 23 per night.
· In addition, approximately 18,000 seats from our buses are replaced each year due to acts of vandalism.
· First has a fleet of 10,000 buses throughout the UK and Glasgow alone accounts for 40% of the Group's glass usage due to window breakages.
· In addition to the direct cost comes the resulting disruption to services and traffic congestion, fear and risk of injury to those aboard.

For more information please contact Nicola Muir on 0141 636 3277 or by email at nicola.muir@firstgroup.com.

Notes to Picture Editor
Digital photographs of the vandalised buses in Summerston are available from Nicola Muir.