In our November print magazine we report on the security work in Glasgow by bus operators First; here is more news.
A man was found guilty yesterday of a charge of racially aggravated breach of the peace and was fined £250, following an assault on a First employee. The incident took place at around 11.30am on Friday August 6, 2004 and involved Mohammed Yousaf, a member of First’s Revenue Protection Team. The security representative for First challenged a companion of the offender to produce a valid ticket and was then subjected to a racial assault. Police were called to the incident on Maryhill Road and the man, 44, was arrested.
This successful conviction follows on from a case last week, where a teenager was the first in Scotland to be convicted following DNA identification. The 17 year old youth was found guilty of racially aggravated breach of the peace and assault on a driver.
Alan Pert, Security Manager, First in Glasgow added: "We are delighted another offender has been made to pay for his actions toward a member of our staff. All our staff are entitled to a safe working environment and we will continue to work closely with Strathclyde Police to ensure that this is the case."
Mohammed Yousaf, Revenue Protection Officer concerned, said: "I am pleased and hope that this incident, and subsequent conviction, stands as a warning to those who think it is acceptable to behave in a racially abusive manner, whoever the victim." Revenue protection staff are a dedicated security team who board buses at random as an additional security measure for staff and public. The team has been in place since March 2004.
