The Police and Crime Commissioner and his deputy met the Chief Executive of the East and North Herts NHS Trust and senior staff at the Lister Hospital, Stevenage, on Monday (28th January).

Commissioner David Lloyd and his deputy, Dr Rachel Frosh, visited the major health facility as part of a fact-finding tour of the county to establish the issues driving crime and to forge partnerships with the key sectors who can help police to keep crime low across Hertfordshire.

Commissioner Lloyd said: “As outlined in my Police and Crime Plan, I want to work with partner organisations to prevent crime before it starts. There is a great deal of common ground between policing and public health - from drug and alcohol misuse to domestic abuse, missing people and mental health issues.

“We were delighted to meet Chief Executive, Nick Carver, and some of his team to kick-start an on-going dialogue to build on the good practice already shared by the hospital, the local police team at Stevenage and the County Community Safety Unit.”

The hospital reported that since police started to provide a regular presence at the Leisure Park, the number of alcohol-related injuries due to assault or accident presented at their A&E Department had reduced dramatically.

Mr Lloyd and Dr Frosh were joined by the Chief Inspector and Neighbourhood Inspector for Stevenage, Richard Harbon and Simon Tabert, A&E consultant Dr Jon Baker, divisional director of medicine Dr Sharn Elton, nurse team lead for emergency medicine, Sheelagh Molloy, and head of safety and security Chris Brewster.

They discussed the issues where health partners and police can enhance their working relationships to help vulnerable people and tackle crime before it starts, including effective data sharing and the care of people with mental health problems.