£5,000 fine for blocking 999 crews

12 April 2012

Anyone who obstructs emergency workers could face a fine of up to £5,000 under rules being introduced.

New legislation covers people who wilfully get in the way of firefighters, ambulance workers, coastguards and lifeboat crews.

It also covers those transporting blood, organs or equipment for the NHS.

Home Office Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "Too often, emergency workers are unable to get to incidents as quickly as they should due to a minority of people obstructing their rescue efforts.

"This seriously impacts on both the emergency workers' ability to do their jobs effectively and, even more worryingly, on those who require an emergency response.

"In some instances, a delay of just a couple of minutes can have terrible consequences.

"Such behaviour will not be tolerated, and deliberate attempts to obstruct or prevent emergency workers, or anyone assisting them, from doing their very difficult jobs, will face a stiff penalty."

Police and prison officers are not included in the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act because they are already covered by separate laws.

The new legislation was brought in by Alan Williams MP (Lab, Swansea West) and supported by the Government.

The offence applies in England and Wales. It also applies in Northern Ireland to ambulance services, people transporting blood organs and equipment, coastguards and lifeboat crews.

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