The NHS SMS Legal Protection Unit (LPU) works closely with the following bodies to safeguard NHS staff and assets from violent and disruptive individuals:
- the police
- the Crown Prosecution Service
- local authorities
- health bodies.
It does this by providing advice and assistance on a wide variety of issues and, in appropriate cases, commencing legal proceedings. The LPU can take action in the civil courts to obtain injunctions, and can also seek antisocial behaviour orders.
LPU and health bodies
The LPU assists health bodies with:
- legal advice on issues such as withholding treatment
- legal advice on the most appropriate sanctions available for specific cases
- legal advice on the most appropriate redress available for specific cases
- legal advice in cases of physical and non-physical assault
- drafting warning letters and acknowledgement of responsibilities agreements.
Where appropriate, the LPU, in conjunction with various health bodies, will prosecute individuals who have assaulted or abused NHS staff, in cases that have not been progressed by the police or the Crown Prosecution Service. This approach has led to the successful prosecution of a number of individuals who would otherwise have escaped justice.
The LPU also works proactively, contributing to the numerous official consultation processes that feed into national initiatives and policies. It works closely with the NHS Security Management Service’s policy team to develop policy guidance on issues such as confiscating weapons on NHS premises.
Members of the LPU write and update large parts of the NHS Security Management Manual (only available to Accredited Security Management Specialists).