Lothian Buses has suspended all services through Niddrie in Edinburgh on Bonfire Night due to concerns over antisocial behavior.
The company say the decision, which affects routes 2, 12, 14, 21, 30, 46, 48, and 400, was made to prioritise the safety of both staff and passengers.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Lothian Buses emphasized their zero-tolerance stance on antisocial behavior, stating: “The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our absolute priority.”
The bus company apologised to affected customers and assured them that the decision was necessary under the circumstances, which were beyond their control. The company also mentioned that their operational team is monitoring the network and may suspend additional services if safety concerns arise, reported by Edinburgh Live.
The bus operator urged the public to report any incidents of public disorder to Police Scotland. This comes amid growing concerns about violent behavior during Bonfire Night, with calls to double the maximum sentence for individuals who attack emergency service personnel.
In 2023, riots erupted in Niddrie, where youths targeted police officers with fireworks and rocks. Similar disturbances have occurred in Dundee and Glasgow in recent years.
According to recent data, 79 people have been charged with using fireworks to assault emergency workers over the past two years. This has led to calls for stricter penalties, with Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr MSP condemning the violence, stating: “These appalling statistics highlight the mindless violence our brave emergency workers face during firework season. Overstretched police officers should never have to endure being targeted by dangerous thugs.”
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