This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New protection for emergency workers
09/05/2005
Measures to protect emergency workers from the threat of
assault came into force today.
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.
The offence will carry a maximum penalty of nine months
in jail, a fine of £5,000 - or both. More serious assaults
will continue to be prosecuted under common law.
Speaking in Glasgow today as he met staff at the Royal
Infirmary, Tom McCabe said:
"People who deal with emergencies provide an invaluable
service to our society. We believe they should be able to
go about their work without fear of attack or intimidation
- and that is why we brought forward this legislation.
"It is absolutely crucial that the dedicated frontline
staff who deal with emergencies can carry out their jobs
free from assault, obstruction or hindrance.
"The Emergency Workers Act is now law and will allow
courts to deal with such incidents as a specific offence
carrying a maximum penalty of nine months in jail, a fine
of £5,000 - or both. It will allow courts to send out a
powerful signal that we will not tolerate anything which
prevents emergency workers - or, indeed, those assisting
them - going about their jobs.
"We simply will not stand for this kind of mindless
thuggery. With the support of new legislation, more
communities are standing up to antisocial behaviour. The
law-abiding majority who care about their communities are
working to rebuild respect. And respect is what our
emergency workers deserve.
"Working in partnership with the Parliament and our
external partners, we have delivered a focused, robust and
workable piece of legislation which will give the dedicated
workers who deal with emergencies the level of protection
they expect and deserve."
Mr McCabe was speaking today on a visit to Glasgow Royal
Infirmary.
The workers covered by the Act include police, fire and
ambulance staff, medical practitioners, nurses and midwives
in hospitals as well as coastguards, crews of RNLI and
non-RNLI rescue vessels, social workers enforcing child
protection orders or emergency protection authorisations,
mental health officers and prison officers responding to
emergency situations. There is also a provision for an
order-making power so that Ministers can add more groups if
necessary.
Police, fire and ambulance workers and medical staff in
hospitals are covered whenever they are on duty, as well as
when they are actually dealing with emergencies.
The maximum penalty under the Bill will be nine months
imprisonment, a fine of £5,000 or both. More serious
assaults will continue to be prosecuted under the common
law.