Friday December 19th 2025
Borders Buses Campaign
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Borders Buses has launched a festive campaign encouraging the travelling public to show respect to its drivers and other staff.
The company is working closely with Scottish Borders Council and Police Scotland to protect its workforce and keep the communities it serves safe.
While anti-social behaviour across the Borders remains relatively low compared to other regions, all three partners are clear that anti-social behaviour is not limited to young people travelling on the Under-22 Free Bus Travel scheme, it occurs across all age groups, and incidents typically increase during the festive season.
The launch of the “They’re Someone’s…” campaign also follows new Scottish Government legislation, due to come into effect in 2026, which will allow transport operators and local authorities to temporarily suspend or block access to free bus travel for individuals of any age who engage in serious or repeated anti-social behaviour or misuse the free bus travel scheme.
The campaign aims to challenge perceptions around who engages in anti-social behaviour, highlight the impact on staff, and reinforce a zero-tolerance stance across the transport network.
To humanise the message, five Borders Buses employees — driver Ally Reid, customer service advisor Hannah Scott, driver Stevie Cooper, customer service advisor Susan Glennie, and driver Kevin McMinn — feature prominently, sharing snapshots of their lives as parents, partners, grandparents and valued community members.
Sharon Morrison, communications director at Borders Buses, said: “Although we see fewer incidents than many other regions, even one instance of abuse toward our staff is one too many.
“Anti-social behaviour is not confined to one age group, it affects everyone. This campaign puts a human face on our frontline teams and, crucially, reflects the strength of the partnership working between Borders Buses, Scottish Borders Council and Police Scotland.
“By working together, and taking a united zero tolerance approach, we are sending a very clear message that our staff and passengers will be protected. Where offences occur, we will fully support efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible.”
Inspector Rory Caverhill said: “We fully understand the impact that anti-social behaviour can have on our community and appreciate the concerns of the public and transport workers, especially this festive season.
“While incidents in the Borders are lower than other areas, this partnership is extremely important to help us work together to tackle anti-social behaviour and keep our community safe.
“We will continue to take all reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and take robust action when necessary, and I’d encourage anyone with concerns to speak with a member of staff or local officers.”
The “They’re Someone’s…” campaign will run across Borders Buses services, interchanges, community venues, social media and regional media channels. It underscores the partnership between Borders Buses, SBC and Police Scotland and their shared commitment to ensuring a safe, respectful and welcoming transport network.
The campaign includes a number of ‘get to know our drivers’ features on the company’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/bordersbuses/?locale=en_GB
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