FRONT line staff at Ipswich Hospital are to be given personal safety alarms.The initiative is part of a security awareness week at the hospital starting today .

FRONT line staff at Ipswich Hospital are to be given personal safety alarms.

The initiative is part of a security awareness week at the hospital starting today .

Security was stepped up at the hospital last year and two police constables are also now posted on site.

The awareness week was the idea of Pc's Jane Corbett and Caroline Sayer who have been based at the hospital for around five months.

Pc Corbett said: "Crime does not flourish in a community which cares and the hospital is a very caring place with a strong community."

Pc Sayer said: "We've been made very welcome since we started five months ago and wanted to raise general awareness about security so that we can work together with everyone who works at, is cared for or who is a visitor at the hospital, to make it an even safer place."

As well as the two police officers, security officers and special constables are all highly visible throughout the hospital.

Last year a zero tolerance policy was adopted against people causing trouble to either staff or other patients on site.

Anyone causing trouble was warned that they would not be treated at the hospital and would have to go elsewhere.

Other things taking place this week include: a visit by crime reduction officers to mark mobile phones with postcodes from 9am until 3pm today in the hospital's South reception area.

Valuable watch – police officers will be touring offices and open spaces spotting unattended personal belongings and putting stickers on them.

On Wednesday children in hospital will get to meet a police dog.

A police advice centre will be available in the Courtyard Restaurant on Friday .

The week was due to be launched today by Paul Forden, chief executive of the hospital at the hospital's South Reception.