A SECURITY specialist has been appointed to help stop violent attacks on NHS workers.

Dorset Ambulance Service and South West and North Dorset Primary Care Trusts have employed Will Smith to fill the new role.

He says anyone who threatens or behaves aggressively towards paramedics, medical or administrative staff faces serious penalties and possible prosecution.

Mr Smith, a trained psychiatric nurse and law graduate, said: "I want to make violence against NHS workers as socially unacceptable as drink-driving.

"Violence against NHS staff is simply not acceptable and we shall be doing all we can to protect the people who spend their working lives helping others.

"In cases where the police do not prosecute, I am trained to carry out investigations and we will push for a private prosecution. We would also consider taking action to prevent a person visiting NHS premises, or anti-social behaviour orders."

Mr Smith urges NHS staff to call the police if threatened, and says front-line staff are being trained to deal with abusive behaviour. He said assaults were expected to rise by 20 per cent a year nationwide.

Dorset is one of the first areas to recruit a security specialist after the Government created the post to tackle the rise.

Official figures show that 30 Dorset paramedics reported verbal or physical abuse last year, but Dorset Ambulance Service spokesman Steve Smith said the true figure was much higher.

He said: "A lot of people absorb verbal abuse without reporting it. These figures mostly relate to physical assaults."

A Dorset paramedic was stabbed in the head while treating a patient four years ago.

Celia Canter, communications officer for South West Dorset Primary Care Trust, said Mr Smith's role was important in creating a support network for staff who are victims of abuse.

Mr Smith, part of the Dorset and Somerset Security Management Service, has been trained by the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service.