Violence towards NHS staff at a Hertfordshire mental health trust has fallen by 30 per cent.

The Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust manager Andrew Wellings said the reduction was due to specialist training and continuing vigilance by frontline staff.

He said: “Our staff are trained to deal with people who may be in a disturbed state for a variety of reasons and are often able to prevent low-level aggressive behaviour becoming more serious. Any assault is regrettable and this trust has one of the lowest rates among England’s mental health trusts.”

West Hertfordshire NHS Hospitals NHS Trust’s assaults have also dropped by 71 per cent, from 73 in 2006/7, to 21 in this year’s results.

A trust spokeswoman said the success was due to the employing of a security management specialist.

Assaults at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust have increased by 26 per cent, from 61 in 2006/7, to 76 in 2007/8.

A trust spokesman said: “We will not tolerate violence against any members of our staff. The public in general are very supportive of our staff and it is unfortunate some individuals act this way.”

West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust’s assaults rose from one in 2006/7 to three in 2007/8.

East of England Ambulance Service’s figures increased ten per cent, from 77 incidents in 2006/7 to 84 in 2007/8