Lothian Buses: Police Scotland must act to make sure vandals who attack vehicles are not allowed to call the shots – Hayley Matthews

I'm really disappointed to read LRT had to cancel all buses after 7.30pm during the week due to vandals launching bricks and all sorts, causing a huge threat to both drivers and passengers.

Police need to ensure the streets are safe for Lothian Buses, says Hayley Matthews (Picture: Rob McDougall)

I just can't help feel though that if we give in to this behaviour then we start making a rod for own backs.

Those working late or needing to get about at night are the ones paying the price for the bored teens looking for a thrill – wee Maggie who's an auxiliary at the Royal Infirmary and needs a bus to get home, Steve who works in Morrison's late at night or young Jessica who needs to take dinner to her gran who's self-isolating.

There are so may people that this caused massive disruption to and I know LRT thought long and hard before making the decision but surely there's something else that can be done to deter this behaviour in the future before cancelling all evening services?

Will cancellations stop these vandals? I don't think so, they'll just find something else to attack like cars, fire engines or even ambulances. What do we do then? Withdraw all emergency services?

It's a tough one, but I do think instead of going around checking up on people for travelling beyond the lockdown distance restrictions that a better use of police resources would be helpful.

We can't bow down to the bored little ******* who get their thrills by disrupting essential services and causing serious harm to people. We need to let them see this is not tolerated and the only ones who can do that with serious force are Police Scotland.

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