On-site Police Presence Linked to Improved Staff Retention at Hospital

An NHS Trust has reported that the deployment of a police officer within a hospital facility has resulted in a decrease in resignations among security personnel, attributed to an enhanced sense of safety. Since its establishment in Cramlington in 2015, Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) has frequently contacted law enforcement due to incidents of violence targeting staff, patients, and visitors. Currently, Northumbria Police assigns an officer to the hospital every night, a measure implemented as part of an ongoing initiative aimed at mitigating violence. Chris Campbell, representing Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, expressed that he was “thrilled” by the positive changes the initiative was bringing to the hospital. “We are particularly pleased to see that our employee turnover rate has improved since establishing the partnership. It is reassuring to know that our staff feel safe when delivering care to our patients and visitors.” The trust reported that the turnover rate for personnel within the hospital’s security team has decreased from 20% in 2019 to 3.7% in 2024. Launched in October 2020, the initiative has included regular monthly meetings between the police force and the hospital’s security team, facilitating knowledge exchange and the resolution of issues. Furthermore, Northumbria Police has delivered a training program covering de-escalation techniques and fundamental legal principles. Insp Jonathan Caisley commented, “The fall in the number of reports to us requesting assistance in recent years shows that our relationship is having a positive effect.”