AN anti-crime initiative modelled on the neighbourhood watch scheme has been launched at a North-East hospital.

Gateshead Health NHS Trust and Northumbria Police have joined forces to reduce anti-social behaviour at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the town.

The scheme aims to increase co-operation between hospital staff and the trust's security team, which includes community officer PC Steve Hudson.

As well as raising staff awareness, the aim is to reduce the fear of crime and the number of offences committed on site and in the surrounding area.

Hospital staff will attend training days and crime prevention talks.

Staff will be taught crime prevention tips, how to deal with a criminal incident and how to report a crime.

There will also be regular visits to wards and departments by members of the security team.

PC Hudson said: "Staff involvement at all levels makes life much more difficult for the criminal entering the hospital grounds, whether it be the petty thief, the opportunist or members of the public behaving with aggression or violence.

"With the scheme in place, we hope that staff will develop critical surveillance skills as second nature, and know that we are close at hand to help them when needed."

The scheme was launched by Councillor Malcolm Graham, a board member of Gateshead Health NHS Trust, who also leads Gateshead Council's Community Safety Partnership.