Security is a crucial aspect of the work of Bradford's brand-new Accident & Emergency department.

A raft of super-hi-tech security measures will help to monitor patients and visitors and make sure unacceptable behaviour is dealt with before it becomes a problem.

Everywhere you look in waiting areas, there are black domes on the ceiling, each housing a CCTV camera. In all, 35 cameras provide 24-hour recordings - of Home Office quality which can be used in court - of events throughout the department.

And as they arrive through the main doors, patients are reminded that aggressive or violent behaviour is being watched and will not be tolerated - they will see themselves on a TV screen as they enter.

A security station staffed by professionals has a direct link with local police. Cameras can view most areas of the department, but do not monitor sensitive clinical areas.

A&E consultant Pete Bradley said there were currently one or two incidents of violence or aggression in the department a week, but verbal threats and abusive behaviour were distressing for staff.

Fellow consultant Tony Shenton added: "We hope the improved environment and sense of flow through the department will reduce patients' sense of frustration. And we hope that they will respect the environment. There's a better feeling of space and flow through."

Each member of staff has identity badges, featuring a photograph and a microchip which will control access to different areas of A&E.

Swiping their ID badge across a pad will release a lock and allow a member of staff to move to a different part of the unit.

And when the unit is quiet outside peak hours, work can be concentrated in a core area while outlying areas are secured with doors only accessible to staff.

Individual personal security alarms will also be issued to staff as they come on duty.

If an employee feels they are in a difficult situation, they can activate the silent alarm, which alerts the central security station so cameras in that area are trained on it, recording what is happening.

The alarm also alerts ten nominated staff who can go to the assistance of their colleague.

And the sophisticated camera system can track moving events around the unit if a problem develops with someone running around the department, for example.

Mr Shenton stressed that he hoped patients would feel the new improved A&E department was part of their community, and would take care of it as something important for them and their families for the future.