CCTV put in at West Suffolk Hospital 'to protect staff'

A hospital in Suffolk has installed CCTV as part of a crackdown on violent and abusive patients and visitors.

West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, now has 27 cameras to deter bad behaviour and collect evidence.

Jan Bloomfield, executive director at the hospital, said it had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to bad behaviour after a number of incidents.

"We hope cameras will deter violence, but they will be able to collect evidence to support prosecutions."

Staff have been subjected to both violent behaviour and abuse.

She said: "Abuse can be just as damaging to staff as violence.

"We ask patients, relatives and visitors to treat staff with the respect they deserve."