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| Obstructing 999 services outlawed | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| People in England and Wales who hinder emergency workers could face a fine of up to £5,000 under legislation which has come into force. | |
| The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act covers those who wilfully get in the way of firefighters, ambulance workers, coastguards and lifeboat crews. | The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act covers those who wilfully get in the way of firefighters, ambulance workers, coastguards and lifeboat crews. |
| Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe said those who obstruct emergency workers now face a "stiff penalty". | Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe said those who obstruct emergency workers now face a "stiff penalty". |
| The law also applies in Northern Ireland in certain circumstances. | The law also applies in Northern Ireland in certain circumstances. |
| In this part of the UK it applies to people obstructing ambulance services, people transporting blood organs and equipment, coastguards and lifeboat crews. | In this part of the UK it applies to people obstructing ambulance services, people transporting blood organs and equipment, coastguards and lifeboat crews. |
| Mr Sutcliffe said emergency workers were often unable to get to get to incidents as quickly as they should due to "a minority of people" who obstructed their rescue efforts. | Mr Sutcliffe said emergency workers were often unable to get to get to incidents as quickly as they should due to "a minority of people" who obstructed their rescue efforts. |
| In some instances a delay of just a couple of minutes can have terrible consequences Gerry SutcliffeHome Office minister | In some instances a delay of just a couple of minutes can have terrible consequences Gerry SutcliffeHome Office minister |
| "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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| The minister went on: "In some instances a delay of just a couple of minutes can have terrible consequences. | The minister went on: "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." | "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." |
| The rules also protect those transporting blood, organs or equipment for the NHS. | The rules also protect those transporting blood, organs or equipment for the NHS. |
| However, police and prison officers are not included in the new rules because they are already covered by separate laws. | However, police and prison officers are not included in the new rules because they are already covered by separate laws. |
| West Midlands ambulance service chief executive Anthony Marsh welcomed the move to protect emergency service staff. | West Midlands ambulance service chief executive Anthony Marsh welcomed the move to protect emergency service staff. |
| 'Every second counts' | 'Every second counts' |
| He said: "The new legislation strengthens the law against those who deliberately create a problem for ambulance staff. | He said: "The new legislation strengthens the law against those who deliberately create a problem for ambulance staff. |
| "This important piece of legislation supports and protects ambulance staff." | "This important piece of legislation supports and protects ambulance staff." |
| He stressed that "every second counts" in an emergency situation and "any delay resulting from a driver obstructing the way or an individual preventing crews from treating a casualty could mean the difference between life and death". | He stressed that "every second counts" in an emergency situation and "any delay resulting from a driver obstructing the way or an individual preventing crews from treating a casualty could mean the difference between life and death". |
| The new legislation was brought in by Alan Williams MP (Lab, Swansea West) as a private members bill. | The new legislation was brought in by Alan Williams MP (Lab, Swansea West) as a private members bill. |
| In May 2005, the Scottish Parliament brought in laws to make assaulting a member of the emergency services a specific offence. | In May 2005, the Scottish Parliament brought in laws to make assaulting a member of the emergency services a specific offence. |
| Offenders in Scotland face up to nine months in prison or a £5,000 fine. | Offenders in Scotland face up to nine months in prison or a £5,000 fine. |