Wiltshire Police and Great Western Hospital shortlisted for national partnership award

The achievement recognises their joint work to tackle violence and abuse against NHS staff.
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Wiltshire Police were recognised by being shortlisted for the Outstanding Partnership Award at the Workplace Violence Reduction Awards, which celebrate effective initiatives addressing violence in professional settings. 
The winners were announced at a ceremony on Wednesday 29 April at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel, which all candidates were invited to.
The nomination recognises the training programme developed as part of the Never OK campaign, which aims to challenge the normalisation of abuse towards healthcare professionals and improve support for staff who experience violence, harassment, discrimination or aggression at work.
As part of the campaign, Wiltshire Police officers spoke to more than 600 hospital staff to better understand the scale and nature of abuse faced by front-line NHS workers.
PC Becky Berni said: “We wanted to really listen to staff about the problems they are facing. Many told us they feel expected to tolerate verbal aggression, physical violence and, in some cases, sexual assault. 
"This has a serious impact on their well being, with some living in fear of what they might face during a shift.
“We heard from staff who have been strangled, stabbed and knocked unconscious. While a small number of incidents involve patients whose illness affects their capacity, most acts of violence are deliberate and the impact is profound. 
"Trauma lingers — it shapes how people feel at work, how they recover after each shift, and how they care for others when they are constantly bracing for the next threat.
“These are victims, and they deserve recognition and support. When staff feel protected, valued and safe, hospitals can be the safe and compassionate environments they are meant to be — for everyone.”
Wiltshire Police developed the training programme to help hospital staff identify criminal behaviour, understand reporting options and access appropriate support when incidents occur.
“Our priority isn’t to criminalise those who lack capacity,” PC Berni added. “It’s about ensuring victims are acknowledged and supported. Tackling this issue requires cultural change, improved reporting systems and proactive measures to protect NHS staff.
“It’s been really eye-opening to see the difference this training has made. Staff are starting to recognise offences and feel more confident challenging unacceptable behaviour.
“I’m surprised and honoured to be listed alongside my NHS colleagues for this award. This has been their hard work - recognising the issues within their own workforce and addressing them in partnership with us. Our role has been to support that work by building trust and sharing our investigative knowledge and experience.”
Anyone who has witnessed or been the victim of a crime is encouraged to report it by calling 101 or via the Wiltshire Police website.
In an emergency, always call 999.
 

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