Nursing recruits at King's Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital have learned how to stay on the right side of the law from their local police team.

Officers from the Gaywood, Fairstead and Reffley safer neighbourhood team visited the QEH to speak to 31 new nurses, who have recently arrived from Portugal, as part of their induction.

The team, whose neighbourhood includes the hospital, works closely with management at the QEH to reduce crime levels and help improve both staff and patient safety and security.

Sgt Hayley Beach, who gave the presentation with collegue Sgt Sonia Humphreys, said: 'We've worked with the hospital to provide a programme which new recruits, especially those from overseas, hopefully find helpful in terms of settling into life in the UK and in King's Lynn.

'It helps increase their confidence in dealing with the police, should they ever need to, and gives us the opportunity to introduce ourselves as their local officers.'

Julia Saunders, practice develop-ment nurse at the QEH, is in charge of training for the new recruits, including running the police session.

'The idea is to make the nurses feel safer and to understand some of our laws so that they don't break them without realising it, ' she explained.

'For instance, they need to know their obligations with regard to car tax and insurance and what to do if they are involved in an accident.

'It's good for them to hear a different view on life in our local community and, very importantly, to know that our police are very approachable if you need help.'