Teenagers using Scotland’s trains for gang fights and violence arranged on social media

Children are using Scotland’s rail network to meet rivals for gang fights arranged on social media, according to police.

Superintendent Dave Marshall, of British Transport Police, said his ­officers were facing soaring levels of gang disorder, weapon-carrying by youths and physical attacks.

Police assaults on the rail network have risen from 32 in 2019/20 to 57 this year. Between April last year and March 31 this year, there were 1,432 cases of antisocial behaviour compared to 1,188 in the same period in 2019/20. Members of a ScotRail team to combat antisocial behaviour were also assaulted on a train last month.

The transport police have now launched a crackdown on the network. Marshall said: “One of the main concerns has been the number of young people travelling far and wide on the rail network during the pandemic.

“Rail staff and revenue ­collection became less visible on the trains. Unwittingly, that led to an environment where groups of young people travelled on trains to an extent never seen before.

“We started to see an increase in reports of antisocial behaviour. Some of these issues endure as a legacy hangover from Covid and we need to address those concerns.

“Often, children as young as 12 were found to be on the opposite side of the city from where they live, without parental consent or knowledge.

“The gang activity is territorial and members are using various means, including mobile phones and social media, to engage in violence and disorder, sometimes travelling fairly significant distances.”

A dossier of assaults, threats and vandalism has been compiled by the Rail, Maritime and Transport trade union as transport police vow to deal with yobs. The attacks include youths trying to start fires on trains and scorching seats.

Three members of ScotRail’s “travel safe team” – which was set up to stop antisocial behaviour and to protect members of the public – were assaulted on a train. One member of the team needed hospital treatment.

British Transport Police have launched a probe into the incident at around 10pm on April 15. A fourth man also suffered minor injuries as a result of the attack on the train travelling between Paisley Gilmour Street and Hillington East.