Politicians in Glasgow have called for urgent action after Central Station was named as the most dangerous train station in Scotland.
Shock new figures from British Transport Police revealed that over 180 crimes were reported in or near to the station in the year to November 2021, over triple the amount reported at Glasgow Queen Street.
These included 66 reported incidents involving violence or sexual offences, 24 of drug possession, 17 of weapons possession, 15 of shoplifting, 14 instances of criminal damage or arson, eight of bicycle theft and two of robbery.
The concerning statistics have sparked calls for action to combat the high levels of crime reported in the vicinity of the station, with one suggestion being that more police officers are deployed to areas around the station to deter criminal offences.
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Labour MSP for Glasgow Paul Sweeney told the Scottish Daily Express: “These figures will be incredibly concerning to the people of Glasgow, particularly when compared to other stations of similar size and prominence such as Edinburgh Waverley.
“It’s also particularly worrying that such a high number of offences took place at a time where most people were working from home and the nighttime economy was closed.
"Logic would dictate that this should surely mean less crime, and we need to understand urgently what is driving people to commit offences at this location.
“With a huge number of people passing through it every day, it is inevitable that there will be some level of criminal behaviour associated with the station. However, with the vast amount of police resources that occupy the station, I would suggest that in the short term, some are redeployed to the surrounding areas to deter criminal offences.
“We do also need to look at longer term solutions. The city centre of Glasgow has become run down and I fear that may, in part, be a driving factor in all of this.
"We need the establishment of a City Centre Taskforce immediately to address the reasons for the decline across the City Centre and I would expect this issue to be looked at by the Taskforce as a matter of priority.”
Thomas Kerr, leader of the Glasgow City Council Conservatives group, added: "The station is one of our city’s most well-known locations and is crucial for the local economy.
"Passengers, workers and those shopping and supporting hospitality premises in and around Glasgow Central must feel safe at all times.
“Sadly this is an area of Glasgow that needs much more than a spruce up infamously suggested by SNP Council leader Susan Aitken. She should stand up to her SNP colleagues in Edinburgh and demand a better funding deal for our council.
“That can help to clean up our streets and ensure they are a safe environment for everyone living and visiting our city, who should never be at risk of being a victim of crime.”
Glasgow City Council did not wish to comment.
A BTP spokesperson said: “While we understand any rise in crime figures can be a concern, it’s important to contextualise that the railway network in Glasgow is still a very safe place to be.
"We’ve been working tirelessly to encourage more reporting of sexual offences so the increase in these figures is a positive step – it tells us more and more people are understanding this behaviour is unacceptable and having the confidence to report it to us.
"Likewise, the increase in drug and weapons related offences is evidence of our successful proactive operations to tackle this sort of crime on the railway.
"Covid restrictions resulted in less people using the railway, however provided officers with more opportunities to engage with people on the network and identify offenders utilising it for no good.
"We are committed to the ensuring the safety of the rail network and would remind any passengers with any concerns to text us discreetly on 61016.”
