POLICE will be posted in East Lancashire hospital casualty departments on Millennium Eve to protect medical and nursing staff from violent patients, it was revealed today.

The revelation comes a day after a 24- hour mini police station - believed to be one of the first in the UK - was opened at Blackburn Infirmary by Home Secretary Jack Straw.

Police will support the hospitals' own security staff on Millennium Eve to prevent trouble breaking out in accident and emergency units at the Infirmary and at Burnley General Hospital by stationing officers inside the departments.

PC Stuart Rutlidge, of the police's events and planning department based at Burnley, said: "We will be putting police officers in A&E departments at the hospitals in the evening and early hours primarily for the safety of staff. They will also act as an emergency medical team if the need arises."

Yesterday Blackburn MP Jack Straw officially opened a new permanent police base next to the casualty unit at the infirmary.

He also launched Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust's Zero Tolerance Zone Campaign to crack down on violent and aggressive patients.

He said: "The staff are trying to help people and they are under stress dealing with patients who are in a state of shock and trauma.

"They should not have to cope with violence. I would like to express my sympathy and anger to the staff who have suffered violence. It is time to put a finish to it." Chief Inspector Mick Turner said the police base would not be staffed all the time, but officers who work in the area will be encouraged to use it. He said: "I believe this is the first hospital police base in the country.

"It will also be the base for the coroner's officer."

Health trust chairman Ian Woolley said there had been 60 assaults on staff between April and October and on average more than one employee a week was being attacked.

He said: "We are working very closely with the police, magistrates and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that enough evidence is provided after any serious incident to bring charges against the perpetrators of violence and aggression.

"We can only hope that if convicted these criminals receive a stiff sentence."

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