CAR parking staff across NHS Lothian are to begin wearing CCTV body cameras from Monday in a bid to boost safety.
Staff working in car parks in the Western General, St John's and the Royal Edinburgh Hospitals will wear the state-of-the-art gadgets to prevent violence and aggression and increase security.
It comes after a trial project at St John's Hospital showed that they helped reduce incidents and act as a deterrent to people who know the footage may be used as a "silent witness" in legal proceedings.
The cameras were introduced after one staff member was hit with a walking stick and another had a car driven at them.
A total of 25 cameras will be introduced across Lothian from March 23 at a cost of £12,750 to protect car parking staff from verbal and physical abuse from angry motorists. Attendants are there to free-up parking spaces for patients and keep emergency routes clear.
Footage will be stored in secure areas along with other CCTV footage and eventually destroyed.
In 2013/14 the number of incidents recorded in car parks across Lothian stood at 81. That figure has risen to 141 over the last 12 months.
They include verbal abuse, assault, threatening behaviour, dangerous driving and violent behaviour.
Alan Boyter, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, NHS Lothian, said: "We have a duty to protect our workforce.
"Our car parking staff are performing a vital function by ensuring patients, visitors and staff can use our sites safely and receive the care they require.
"Any abusive behaviour towards NHS staff is completely unacceptable and we will do everything we can to protect our employees who are only doing their jobs as best they can and for the benefit of all."
If the car parking staff feel threatened in a particular situation, they simply turn on the camera which causes a light to appear as a warning that recording is in progress.
So far, the technology has been successfully used by general parking attendants, litter wardens and police officers.
Mr Boyter added: "Some people seem to think that because no-one else is around to witness their unacceptable behaviour that they will get away with it. That will no longer be the case."
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