Hi tom - have you heard about this? This Act will come into force on Tuesday, 20 February 2007. The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 contains two new offences. First the Act makes it an offence to obstruct or hinder certain emergency workers who are responding to emergency circumstances. Emergency workers are defined 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. This also covers prison officers by virtue of the Prisons Act 1952, which says that prison officers, whilst acting as such, enjoy the same protections and privileges as a constable. The Act covers obstruction when an emergency worker is responding to emergency circumstances or preparing to do so. Emergency circumstances are defined as circumstances which are present or imminent, and which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious injury or serious illness, worsen any serious injury or illness, or are likely to cause or worsen serious harm to the environment, buildings or property. Second, the Act also makes it an offence to hinder or obstruct those who are assisting emergency workers responding to emergency circumstances. This will cover obstructing those who, for example, are fetching or directing traffic during an incident to assist the emergency workers.