Emergency workers


Emergency workers have additional legal protection from assault. In Scotland, the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 made it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder someone providing an emergency service or someone assisting an emergency worker in an emergency situation. In 2008, the law was extended to include protection for GPs, nurses and midwives working in the community.


The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Under the Act, it is an offence to “obstruct or hinder” emergency workers responding to “blue light” situations. The Act defines emergency workers as firefighters, ambulance workers and those transporting blood, organs or equipment on behalf of the NHS, coastguards and lifeboat crews. (The police already have their own obstruction offence in the Police Act 1996). The maximum penalty for an offence is £5,000.