Data sharing calls time on Cardiff bar brawls

Police in Cardiff have been given access to Accident and Emergency data to help them crack down on weekend violence in the city centre.

Staff at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff are providing monthly reports to police about where assault victims have been attacked.

This has allowed officers to identify potential hotspots, and work with pubs and clubs to reduce the risk of after-hours brawls.

The system is underpinned by archiving technology from ZyLab, which allows hospital staff to search the Accident and Emergency patient database and identify cases of assault.

Before being passed on to the police, records are stripped of any details that could identify individuals involved.

Alcohol-related casualties have been a growing problem in recent years, said Roy Simmons, assistant directorate manager of emergency medicine at the University Hospital of Wales.

"But this is helping us stem the tide," he added.

To date, the police have had success in targeting pubs or clubs identified as potential hotspots.

One bar took the simple step of replacing the door staff's black suits and ties with more casual attire. The number of reported assaults in the vicinity dropped.

"If we can do anything to reduce the number of people we're having to patch up on the weekends, we can target our resources to where they're most needed," said Simmons.