NHS & CPS in West Yorkshire Get Tough on Violence Against NHS Staff 07/06/07

07/06/2007

Criminals targeting the NHS in CPS West Yorkshire were dealt a blow today, after a new hard-hitting agreement between the NHS Security Management Service and the Crown Prosecution Service was signed, outlining how they will 'get tough' on offenders.

As the agreement will improve communication between the CPS and Local Security Management Specialists at health bodies, investigations into violence against NHS staff will be made easier. This will lead to an increase in prosecutions and tougher sentences against offenders.

In 2005/06 128 people were prosecuted for assaulting NHS staff in the North East and Yorkshire. Nationally there has been a sixteen-fold increase in prosecutions in the last three years. In 2002/03, only 51 people were prosecuted for attacking NHS staff. In 2005/06, this figure had risen to 850.

The agreement was signed by Neil Franklin O.B.E. the Chief Crown Prosecutor in West Yorkshire and Paul Gilderdale the Area Security Management Specialist for the NHS Security Management Service in the North East and Yorkshire region.

At the first national NHS Security Management Service conference last November, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken McDonald QC said: "It is clearly in the public interest to prosecute people who assault NHS staff."

His statement followed the agreement of a national Memorandum of Understanding with the NHS Security Management Service, which is designed to ensure the effective prosecution of those who assault NHS staff.

Neil Franklin O.B.E., Head of the CPS in West Yorkshire today said: "CPS West Yorkshire is committed to doing everything it can to promoting a safe environment for NHS employees.

"Assaults on people doing their jobs are always serious offences. When those concerned are employed to deal with injuries and illness, offences of this kind are even more unforgivable. Such cases will always be prosecuted with due rigor and determination."

Paul Gilderdale said: "To ensure effective prosecution of cases of violence and abuse against our staff, it is important that NHS supports the CPS by ensuring that they receive comprehensive evidence and information as soon as possible. In the light of this agreement staff should feel assured that their cases will be robustly prosecuted and supported by the CPS, the NHS Security Management Service and the Local Security Management Specialists at their own Trusts."

End

Notes to editors

1. For further enquiries or interview requests please contact CPS West Yorkshire on 0113 2902839 or contact Darren Aldrich at the NHS Security Management Service Press Office on 020 7895 4523.