Heroin and fraud crimes at Perth train station

Over a dozen crimes were reported on trains and railway lines in Perth and Kinross last year.

According to figures contained in a Freedom of Information request, 16 crimes were recorded in or around the region’s stations during 2018.

These included an assault on an emergency worker at Blair Atholl station on October 25.

Thirteen of the incidents were recorded at Perth train station, including four assaults, four cases of theft and one case each of fraud, attempting to pervert the course of justice, possession of heroin with intent to supply and graffiti.

Other incidents included culpable and reckless conduct at the Guay level crossing and theft of metal in Dunning.

Ten of the incidents remained unsolved at the time the FoI was released.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith described the figures as“shocking”and showed the British Transport Police faced a tough job.

She said:“The Scottish Government’s plan to merge BTP with Police Scotland was rightly shelved in August last year and these statistics demonstrate the effectiveness of officers working with BTP in dealing with such rail crime.

“BTP staff and trade unions had repeatedly urged the SNP to ditch their merger plan and it was common sense to do so. BTP staff do a terrific job and the level of these crimes just shows how difficult a task their officers face.”