A hospital in King's Lynn has joined forces with police to help cut crime. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a frequent target for thieves, and bosses hope that by being included on a regular beat around its 'streets' and having a designated contact officer crime will plummet.

A hospital in King's Lynn has joined forces with police to help cut crime.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a frequent target for thieves, and bosses hope that by being included on a regular beat around its 'streets' and having a designated contact officer crime will plummet.

It had been hoped to have a permanent police base at the hospital, but officers patrolling the hospital as part of their duties will remain based on the Fairstead Estate.

The hospital already has its Hawkeye award, which rewards staff for spotting and deterring criminals, a specialist security manager based full time at the site and CCTV linked in with the town centre.

And a poster campaign to encourage people not to leave valuables on display is due to be launched at the hospital.

"It is a constant problem because it is a public building," said a spokesman.

"It is open to all and sundry and there is a fair chance that of the thousands of people coming in here a fair number are going to be villains.

"We do have secure doors on some areas but so many areas are open for relatives and visitors you cannot make every area as secure as you would like to."

The hospital has its own security manager, Gary Morris. He said having the police patrol the hospital as part of their beat and having an officer they could contact to deal with problems would make a difference.