In response to rising incidents of antisocial behavior targeting coach drivers in rural Scotland, Stagecoach North Scotland has begun installing protective security screens on its vehicles. These hardened plastic “bandit screens” are now standard on new coaches serving long-distance routes from Inverness and Aberdeen, with retrofitting underway on older vehicles at an approximate cost of £3,500 each.

The move follows the 2024 death of Keith Rollinson, a driver who suffered a fatal heart attack after being assaulted by a 15-year-old passenger in Elgin, a town of around 24,000 residents on the Moray Firth. Rollinson had refused entry to the intoxicated teenager, who then punched and headbutted him. The attacker was later convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to four years in prison.

The initial installation of screens took place on six new electric coaches assigned to the N96 route linking Inverness and Aberdeen, a three-hour journey popular among tourists and promoted by Stagecoach as passing through scenic towns and countryside. Since then, screens have been fitted to 22 additional coaches, with work ongoing on five more vehicles. New coaches from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, destined for services between Fraserburgh and Aberdeen, will also be equipped with the protective barriers.

While Stagecoach has adopted the screens, National Express, the UK’s largest coach operator, reported that none of its fleet currently features such security measures. Similar protective screens are common in London buses, where drivers operate within sealed cabs.

Bus Users UK director Greig Mackay described the introduction of security screens on coaches as unprecedented in the United Kingdom. Speaking to the Scottish Parliament’s transport committee, he highlighted growing concerns over violence and disruptive behavior on public transport in Scotland, noting that the safety screens reflect the escalating risks faced by drivers. Angus South MSP Lloyd Melville echoed these concerns, citing constituent reports of unchecked antisocial conduct that deter passengers from using buses.

Stagecoach acknowledged that retrofitting the screens involves substantial costs due to the original coach designs featuring open driver cabs. The Unite union, which advocated for the protective measures, argued that given public funding levels, it is reasonable for operators to invest in security improvements for coaches alongside buses.