Figures from British Transport Police (BTP) show that total reported crimes increased from 1,659 in 2018/19 to 2,130 in 2023/24. Reported sex crimes rose by two-thirds, from 51 to 85, while offences against society, including antisocial behaviour, more than doubled from 170 to 369.

The trend has continued into 2024/25, with BTP reporting a seven per cent increase in crime during the first half of the year – an additional 72 more cases than the same period in 2023/24.

The figures, submitted to the Scottish Railways Policing Committee in November, showed:

• Violence increased by 28 per cent, with cases rising from 78 to 356.
• Serious violent incidents causing injury increased by 25 per cent, reaching 86 cases.
• Public order offences fell by 19 per cent to 734, while robberies dropped by 25 per cent to four.
• Violence against women and girls rose by 21 per cent to 121 cases, though sex offences fell by four per cent to 46, and sexual harassment dropped by 25 per cent to six.

Scottish Labour transport spokeswoman Claire Baker said: “This is a deeply worrying rise in violent and antisocial behaviour. No passenger should feel unsafe. We need a plan to reverse this dangerous trend.”

BTP Superintendent Lorna Mcewan said: “We have officers across the network around the clock to detect and deter crime.”

David Lister, ScotRail’s safety, sustainability and asset director, said: “We have many measures in place across the network to create a safe environment, including double staffing on some late-night services and tripling the number of body-worn cameras available to staff.”