SECURITY is set to be stepped up at the city council's main customer service centre after an increase in antisocial behaviour.
After one recent violent incident, three staff at the Wilson Centre resigned on the same day, citing the "threatening working environment" as their reason for leaving.
In another, five police officers were required to restrain and remove an aggressive customer.
The building, in Alfred Gelder Street, city centre, has also been subject to a physical attack when five of its windows were smashed.
No one was hurt in that case, which is still being investigated by the police.
A surge in violence and antisocial behaviour has been recorded after the council took over responsibility for issuing crisis payments from the Department for Work and Pensions two months ago.
It also follows changes to welfare benefits, including the introduction of the so-called bedroom tax, which came into force in April.
Since then, the council says there have been "increased incidents of aggressive customer behaviour" in the centre, which operates as a one-stop shop for advice and information on council services.
Now cabinet councillors have agreed to fund an increase in security staff working at the centre as well as relocating a section where crisis loan applications are processed to a more private area of the ground floor.
Andy Brown, the council's customer services manager, said: "Since April, there have been increased incidents of aggressive customer behaviour, including physical and verbal abuse, with a number of cases requiring the physical intervention of the security guards and, in the most severe cases, the police have had to be called.
"Due to the substantial increase in customer demand overall in the Wilson Centre, it has created a frequently cramped and crowded environment with long waiting times.
"These factors, combined with the often critical situation some customers find themselves in, create a tense and confrontational atmosphere, which is not conducive to effective and attractive service delivery.
"It is also not an acceptable environment in which young families with children are often present.
Mr Brown said most the worst behaviour involved people applying for crisis loans.
Councillor John Hewitt, portfolio holder for neighbourhood and communities, said: "It is quite evident that the service is under great strain, so the measures proposed are essential to try to eliminate some of the problems that are occurring.
"The safeguarding of our staff and customers is paramount and we will try to address difficulties as and when they occur."
Deputy council leader Councillor Daren Hale praised staff working at the centre for delivering services "with humanity and rigour" while being under enormous pressure.
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