Shropshire hospital security staff to use video after attacks

Security officers at the Shropshire's two main hospitals are to wear video cameras on their uniforms to help stamp out violent attacks on staff.

Body-worn video equipment will come into force next month at The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shrewsbury, health bosses have announced.

The move comes after nearly 800 incidents were recorded at the hospitals in 2010/11 – 469 of which related to violence and aggression.

And 23 incidents involved intentional physical attacks on staff while they were performing their duties.

Trust security manager Jon Simpson said today: "Body-worn video equipment will overlap with and complement existing security provision and may have a significant impact on re- ducing levels of intentional violence and aggression.

"Use of the equipment will increase the confidence of our staff and our security teams and reassure the public that their hospital experience will be a safe one.

"The safety of patients, visitors and staff in our hospitals is of paramount importance to the trust."

The body cameras, which also record sound, will be in stand-by mode and will only be switched on if an incident occurs. Security staff will make it clear to the perpetrator that they are turning the camera on and will explain that everything they do or say will be recorded and may be used as evidence or passed to the police.