A TEENAGER has been charged after allegedly pointing a replica handgun at a staff member at Albury Hospital.
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The boy was on bail at the time of the incident.
The 17-year-old entered the Borella Road hospital with two other teens about 7pm on Sunday.
The boy is accused of raising the replica weapon towards the staff member.
The trio were told police had been called and they fled the scene.
Officers arrested the teenagers at the nearby IGA store.
The weapon was recovered and was taken into evidence.
The 17-year-old was questioned at the police station before being charged with breaching bail, possessing an unauthorised pistol and being armed with intent.
He was also charged with intimidation and trespassing.
The other two teenagers were released from police custody.
The matter is still under investigation.
Albury Wodonga Health did not want to comment on the matter on Monday.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association raised concerns in early 2016 about “serious violent incidents and aggression” at hospitals throughout the state.
Association acting general secretary Judith Kiejda said the issue needed to be looked at urgently and said trained security staff were vital to addressing the problem.
Crime statistics show Albury has a high rate of offences involving prohibited and regulated weapons when compared to the rest of the state.
In the 12 months to September 2012, 83 such offences were recorded.
That grew to 192 offences in the year to September 2014 and declined to 150 offences in the 12 months to last September.
