Town centre ban for drunks found abusing NHS staff

Rochdale police have extended their Acceptable Behaviour Scheme to Rochdale Infirmary.

It comes following a number of incidents where staff at the hospital have been abused by members of the public following a drunken night out.

The scheme, which has been in force in Rochdale for nearly five years, involves members of the Pub Watch scheme and involves local police, licensing officers and pubs working together to crack down on trouble-causers so that local people can feel safe and secure on a night out.

Under Pub Watch, anyone who is arrested or identified for causing trouble in a pub will be referred to the ‘Acceptable Behaviour Scheme’ where a committee of licensees decides on a plan of action. This could range from sending a letter warning the offender to behave in future, to imposing a two-year ban from every single pub in the scheme. In this instance, Pub Watch members will be given the name and a photograph of the person concerned so that they can make sure the offender does not enter their premises.

Daisy Edwards, licensing officer for GMPs Rochdale Division, said: “It’s great to see this scheme extended to the hospital. We see it happening too often, where people working to help those coming into hospital are abused by those very same people following a drunken night out and now we can do something about it and try to make a difference.”

Glynis Jones, Head of Security at Rochdale Infirmary, is delighted to have police officers at the hospital during weekends.

She said: “We have had a number of complaints by staff following abuse from people that have come in drunk following a night out in Rochdale Town Centre. Our staff have the right to work in a safe and protected environment without fear of violence or the threat of violence.

“We have seen a reduction in incidents at other hospitals when police officers are stationed in Accident and Emergency because people know they will be arrested.

“The police will be working with hospital security at the weekends and I am sure our medical staff will be reassured by their presence. Any member of the public who is violent towards a member of our staff will be banned from at the pubs in Rochdale as part of this new scheme.”