Personal alarms are being offered to staff at a hospital to ward off aggressive patients and visitors.
The alarms, which are attached to a belt, have already been given to accident and emergency staff at Eastbourne District General Hospital.
Now they are being offered to staff in all departments.
The alarms emit a piercing sound, audible at more than 400 yards.
They are one of a number of measures being introduced at the hospital to protect staff. Other measures include swipe-card locks on doors.
Security adviser John Harmer said the hospital had the lowest recorded crime rate among hospitals in the South-East, with 285 incidents for the year ending October 31.
They included verbal threats, physical aggression and racial and sexual harassment.
Almost a third of the incidents happened in the accident and emergency department.
But close behind were geriatric patients, who sometimes unwittingly lashed out when confused.
A study has shown trouble is most likely to break out on a Wednesday night.
Ex-policeman Mr Harmer said: "We are channelling our energies into protecting against crime because we don't want to have to deal with it in the first place.
"It's not a big problem here but we want to make sure all staff feel safe."
Acting hospital chief executive Glenn Douglas said: "We fully support staff who are subjected to any threats and will make sure appropriate action is taken against the offenders."
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