Undercover police officers are to be placed in one Britain's busiest emergency wards to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence towards staff.

Plain-clothed officers will begin patrolling the A&E department at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham as part of a three-month pilot project.

They will patrol the waiting room on Friday and Saturday nights as health bosses attempt to stamp out rowdy behaviour from patients, relatives or friends. Anyone caught misbehaving could be arrested, issued with an on-the-spot fine or even removed from the hospital.

A spokesman for the Nottingham University Hospital's NHS Trust (NUH) said the measures were being put in place to complement an already robust system of dealing with troublemakers in the department.

"A range of robust measures are already in place at NUH," the spokesman said. "This initiative will help to drive the message home that any anti-social behaviour in the hospital is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

The project will be mirrored at hospitals in the West Midlands and the North West, the spokesman added.

Inspector Andy Baguley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said the involvement of the police should reinforce the message that violence in hospitals is a crime and will not be tolerated.

"Doctors, nurses and other staff at the QMC shouldn't have to put up with rowdy and abusive behaviour," he said. "We are working closely with the trust and will be encouraging staff to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour anywhere within the QMC."