Emergency workers gain improved legal protection

Obstructing or hindering emergency workers in the course of their duties has become a specific offence under a new law which received royal assent last month.

The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 - which follows similar legislation introduced in Scotland last year - closes gaps in the law in relation to ambulance workers, for whom no offence of obstruction previously existed. It also makes it easier to prosecute people who obstruct or hinder fire crews dealing with emergencies.

Recent research for the FBU firefighters' union by the Labour Research Department found that there are 40 attacks on UK fire crews every week, and the problem is getting worse. Taking under-reporting into account, the weekly toll could be as high as 120 attacks.

Examples include scaffolding poles being thrown through fire-engine windscreens; crews being attacked with concrete blocks, bricks and bottles; firefighters being shot or spat at; and equipment being tampered with, stolen or urinated on.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack welcomed the new law, adding that it needs to be part of a package of measures to tackle the underlying problems. "Central to this package is the need for a range of educational measures to try and stop these attacks happening."

The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 is available at www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ 20060039.htm