Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
I am today confirming the commencement of sections 119 and 120 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 in Wales.
This is a significant and positive step, which strengthens protections for NHS staff and will help ensure all hospitals and healthcare settings are safe places where compassionate care can flourish.
Section 119 creates a specific offence of causing nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises, reinforcing the message that disruptive and intimidating behaviour has no place in our health service. Section 120 provides authorised NHS officers with the power to remove a person reasonably suspected of committing that offence.
Together, these provisions give staff the confidence and mandate to act swiftly to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their patients, so services can continue to be provided without disruption.
This is about safety, dignity and support for the workforce. It does not criminalise people seeking care; it ensures staff can do their jobs free from fear and people can receive treatment in calm and secure environments.
By commencing these sections, we are underlining our long-held, zero tolerance approach to violence and unacceptable behaviour in the NHS.
This work has been shaped in partnership with the Anti‑Violence Collaborative, Police, Crown Prosecution Service, NHS organisations and trade unions, reflecting our shared commitment to safe workplaces and the wellbeing of staff. The constructive engagement and practical insights have helped ensure the approach is robust, proportionate and ready for implementation.
In Wales, we stand with our NHS workforce. We will continue to support staff with the tools, training and partnerships they need to feel safe at work and to deliver the high‑quality care that people rely on.
To support implementation, we are issuing guidance to NHS organisations in Wales under s121 of the Act. It sets out practical expectations for authorisation, training, safe removal, record‑keeping, and integration with local violence and aggression policies. It is available at Managing nuisance behaviour on NHS Wales premises | GOV.WALES