SECURITY
Security officials at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have begun using body mounted security cameras in order to deter abusive and violent individuals from causing trouble, reports Richard Mackillican
V Smile… you’re on CCTV
iolence and abusive behaviour aimed at health workers is one of the most
reprehensible crimes possible.
Hospitals throughout Britain are now having to divert much needed funding away from delivering key services, just to provide an adequate level of safety for their patients and staff.
Luckily this is not the case at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who were able to work in partnership with their security provider to procure body mounted cameras to capture any violent or abusive incidents on tape.
“In total we and our partners have invested £12,500 on body mounted security cameras along with high visibility uniforms,” says Jug Johal, head of security at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation trust.
“This was the latest edition in a series of steps which we have taken to protect staff and from the outset our message was clear; that violence and abuse at our hospitals will not be tolerated.”
When the team went about procuring the on-body system, it was hoped that the addition of those cameras would act as a deterrent to potential trouble makers.
“In turn we hoped that this would help us to reduce the amount of incidents of violence, aggression and acts of anti-social
80 nhe Jug Johal
behaviour being perpetrated on trust property. We also hoped that the equipment would act as support for the local police and the NHS legal protection unit in prosecuting offenders.”
There have been various studies into the amount of violent crime committed on NHS property and against NHS staff, with some suggesting that the counts of violent crime is actually rising.
Luckily this is not the case at the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust but it is still a problem which Johal and his team take very seriously.
“Although violent crime is not a growing problem, it is something which we know we have to address effectively. We have recognised that it is a problem and would not want to see it grow.
“This is why we are working proactively to try and reduce the amount of incidents and by using this system we are ensuring that we have a solid base of evidence with which to convict perpetrators.”
This is a key element to the
equipment. According to Johal, nine times out of ten trusts are unable to access evidence that an incident has taken place. Because of this, the system allows trust security to not only confront perpetrators with their actions but also to record them red-handed.
“Having this kind of technology enables us to give extra evidence to the police, which then allows for the perpetrators of violent and abusive behaviour to be dealt with properly.”
The equipment has not only made staff feel safer but also empowered them to do more than just break up situations as they arise and has been met with a very warm welcome at the trust.
“It has had a very good reception as a deterrent especially in accident and emergency and de- escalating the situation.”
No one wants things to go to court and for people to be prosecuted. All staff want is for people to behave in an appropriate manner and if that means talking them out of committing a more serious offence, then Johal and his team have now got a very special tool at their disposal.
“Usually, when we inform the individual that we are using mobile CCTV it de-escalates the situation and for us, that is the key. We don’t want it to move to that next stage where we have to resort to physical intervention.”
Because the equipment has only just begun to be used, Johal did
Jul/Aug 10
not have any solid figures to hand but assured me that, for a modest investment, the trust was seeing real benefits from using the on-body cameras.
“It definitely has the desired effect. It works.”
The teams have been using the systems since January this year and are now deploying the equipment in a number of scenarios and on the night shift, where such equipment is especially useful, along with the high visibility uniforms.
“As part of our development of a pro-security culture at the trust, we have launched a new uniform which is in line with Humberside Police. This makes our officers much more highly visible and certainly acts as a deterrent.”
So given the success which the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation trust has enjoyed thanks to these new security additions, is this something which Jug would recommend to other trusts in a similar position?
“Absolutely. We have already had a number of trusts contact us regarding the effects of the cameras and yes, it definitely works.
“Whereas fixed CCTV cameras can only record what is within their range, because these cameras are attached our officers they can record wherever we need them to which gives us an added layer of flexibility.”
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