Attacks on hospital staff in Brighton and Hove are up by almost a third, according to new figures.

There were 1,002 reported violent incidents at hospitals in Brighton between April 2001 and March 31, 2002, compared to 755 the previous year.

But hospitals are fighting back in a bid to protect staff.

More security cameras are being installed and a zero tolerance policy has been adopted against people who cause problems.

Two people were convicted last year for common assault on staff, which led to each being jailed for four months.

Hospital bosses and security staff have built stronger links with police in Brighton and more people are being charged with minor public order offences as a result.

Out of the 1002 incidents there were 90 reported injuries with most being scratches and bruises.

More than half of the attacks happened in the A&E department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Most incidents involved patients who were drunk or on drugs.

There were 20 actual assaults with the rest of the cases made up of disorderly conduct, being drunk and disorderly, threatening behaviour and verbal abuse.

Thirty-three incidents involved threats with weapons. These included knives, fake guns, screwdrivers and on one occasion a razor blade. Patients have also used crutches, dripstands and walking sticks to attack staff.

Security officers were called to 460 incidents at A&E out of a total of 852 across the whole of the former Brighton Health Care NHS Trust.

One member of staff from A&E, who did not want to be named, said: "One time I was working in the department at about 8pm in the evening when a man came in drunk.

"He had a cut head but he wouldn't let anyone near him. Eventually he calmed down and I went over to him. He grabbed me and pushed me to the floor before trying to kick me.

"He was too drunk to do any damage but it shook me up. I was still upset when I finished my shift."

Hospital bosses believe the actual number of attacks on staff is higher but many are not reporting them because of their workload and the extra paperwork it includes.

Director of facilities Lee Soden said: "It is important all cases are reported so we can see what is happening and what we must do to try to avoid them in the future.

"People are getting better at letting us know when something has happened but there are still some slipping through the system."

Mr Soden said a number of steps had already been taken to improve conditions and they were already beginning to have an effect.

He said: "Providing a link between our CCTV system and the one at Brighton police station has been very successful.

"Other things like improving the lights around the hospital car parks have also helped.

"The presence of the security staff has helped to dramatically reduce the number of incidents."

The hospital has been given £47,000 to upgrade security at staff accommodation at Sussex House in Abbey Road and Brighton General Hospital.

Staff are also being given training on how to cope with potentially violent incidents and how to control and restrain violent patients.