Emergency workers



Emergency workers have additional legal protection from assault. In Scotland, the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 makes 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 have their own obstruction offence in the Police Act 1996).


Unions have welcomed the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill, introduced as a private members’ bill by the Labour MP Chris Bryant and currently making its way through parliament. Dubbed the “protect the protectors” Bill, it will increase the seriousness with which assaults on emergency workers are dealt with by introducing new offences and increased penalties. MPs backed an amendment extending the scope of the bill to include sexual as well as physical assault. 


Retail and hospitality trade unions have welcomed a member’s bill lodged in the Scottish parliament by MSP Daniel Johnson which proposes a law to protect workers in the retail sector in Scotland, and those who sell age-restricted items, such as bar and restaurant staff. The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-Related Sales etc.) (Scotland) Bill would provide “a clear and lower threshold at which obstructive, abusive or threatening behaviour is considered a crime and can be prosecuted by creating new criminal offences for verbal and physical abuse against these workers”.