Body cameras reduce verbal abuse by 60%

13 Aug 09

A dramatic reduction of 60% in the level of verbal abuse was achieved by SIA Approved Contractor ISS Mediclean at the Chelsea & Westminster hospital during an eight-week trail using body worn video equipment to record incidents.

By Brian Sims

The Robocam mobile CCTV units, supplied by Interconnective, are being used extensively by UK police forces and also being introduced into the private security sector. The trial has demonstrated the equipment to be effective when dealing with acts of violence, aggression and anti-social behaviour.

ISS Mediclean is currently finalising deployment of the Robocam body cameras throughout its business, with the first two sites being the Chelsea & Westminster and Worcester Hospitals.

Trevor Post the security manager at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital - told SMT Online: “The body cameras have reduced our incidents of verbal abuse by 60% and recorded incidents of aggression by 29%. We are now looking to purchase permanent units for the hospital.”

Linking manpower with new technology

Nick Holden - the head of security for ISS Mediclean - explained: “We understand that as a preferred ‘Supplier of Choice’, we need to develop security services which provide our clients with controls that ensure the safest environment possible. We look to use not just a manned presence to prevent and deter crime, but to link this with technology-based systems to support both ISS Mediclean and its clients in providing the best customer experience possible."

Holden continued: "While the company appreciates the sensitivity surrounding security in hospitals, we strongly believe that it's necessary to have clear and objective goals which fulfill the needs of the Trust, patients and other Stakeholders. We feel that the technology-based systems we use do not just improve the security of a hospital, but also have a positive impact upon all clinical and non-clinical departments. The use of body camera technology will greatly reduce incidents of violence, aggression and acts of anti social behaviour while at the same time supporting the police and NHS prosecutions against those who commit crime.”

In addition to adopting the body cameras, ISS Mediclean has been working hard over the last 12 months to ensure its officers have the best training and equipment available to deal with the volatile environment in which they have to work. “As well as the body cameras all the officers wear the latest technology in body armour, which is also supplied by Interconnective," said Holden, "and they've each received physical intervention training to nationally recognised standards."

Level 2 Security Practitioner qualification

Holden is justifiably proud of the fact that a batch of 47 ISS Mediclean security officers have completed the Level 2 Security Practitioner qualification. The plan is for all other officers to complete the benchmark qualification by the end of the year.

ISS Mediclean has specialised in providing customised security service solutions to the NHS since 1984. In September 2005, the organisation made a corporate decision to employe a security professional to guide them through the changes which were brought about by the Private Security Act 2001, and also to further develop its security services within the healthcare market place. Since Holden's appointment, the security services belonging to ISS Mediclean have gone from strength to strength.

Indeed, ISS Mediclean was one of the first 100 companies to achieve Approved Contractor Scheme registration, adding CCTV to its security guarding ACS status within a year.