Posted By Baz Broomhead
Hi all

I was visiting a client premises today which comprised a drop in centre, surgery & methodone dispensary etc for "Vunerable people"

One of the questions raised was how do they deal with "clients" bringing guns & knives into the centre. They dont wish to introduce any form of searching as this may drive the people away that they are trying to help. My view is that they should protect the majority,ie staff and others who want to use the centre and comply with the rules. If the others cant comply with a no weapons rule then they dont come in(However I have no experience of care in the community so am probably not the best person to tell them how to run the place).

The guns havent been pulled on anyone yet, but they are shown to other "clients" for effect. There have been a few "minor stabbings" of client on client, but nothing too serious as yet!!

Has anyone else come across this type of situation before and how did you deal with it?
Thanks for reading

Baz

Posted By steve williamson
Hi Baz,

We experience this type of thing periodically in community based and hospital services and I will send you example RA's and SOP's if you drop me a line. I'm afraid though that you will have to put the rest of us law abiding citizens above your clients and where an offence is being committed call the police.

Steve
Stephen.Williamson@mail.nmanhc-tr.nwest.nhs.uk