ScotRail booze ban sees alcohol crimes double

Rail passengers at Edinburgh's Waverely Station. Alcohol-related crimes have doubled since ScotRail's introduction of a booze ban. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Alcohol-related crimes have nearly doubled to 240 since ScotRail introduced a night-time booze ban last July, the train operator revealed today.

• Alcohol-related crimes nearly double since night-time booze ban

• 240 arrests made compared to 129 last year

• Alcohol has been banned on ScotRail services after 9pm since last July

The total for the year to the end of last month compares to 129 offences last year.

ScotRail said stronger enforcement by British Transport Police (BTP) plus higher levels of customer and staff reporting had led to more arrests.

Alochol was banned from trains after 9pm, which ScotRail said was backed by the vast majority of passengers.

Managing director Steve Montgomery said: “We expected to see a rise in arrests, and this is borne out in these figures.

“The message is clear. There will be repercussions for the small minority who flout the ban and behave in an anti-social manner due to excess alcohol.”