There are several short term risk assessment instruments used in mental health inpatient settings designed to assess imminent aggression. While the assessment of risk is important, it is equally important that following assessment, efforts are focused on intervening to prevent aggression and use of restrictive interventions. While there has been considerable research investigating the predictive accuracy of these instruments, there has however, been limited focus on intervention following prediction of risk. By assessing the level of risk, this can assist nurses to identify who might be likely to engage in aggression, and prompt coordination of strategies to reduce risk by intervening appropriately. Against this background, this paper will discuss a program of research designed to enhance risk assessment using the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA), and a linked Aggression Prevention Protocol designed to reduce aggression and use of restrictive interventions.