Emergency workers will be better protected from violence and
abuse when visiting homes as the government introduces new laws
to support frontline staff.
The new measures, tabled today as amendments to the government's
landmark Crime and Policing Bill, will close an existing loophole
that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse
towards police, fire and ambulance workers making house calls.
Currently, it is illegal to racially or religiously abuse anyone
in public, but this does not extend to behaviour within a private
home.
The gap was originally designed to ensure that the laws that
allow police to keep public spaces free from serious disorder did
not overstep into private conversations held in homes.
By stopping short of people's houses, the law has left emergency
workers vulnerable and unprotected to racial and religious-based
abuse and harassment during house calls, and unable to hold the
perpetrators to account for their behaviour.
Reports of emergency workers being abused for their race or
religion while in private homes have increased, and the
government thinks it is vital they get the protections they
deserve as they carry out their vital work to resolve home
disputes and provide health care.
By closing the loophole in the Public Order Act 1986, the
government is making clear that racially or religiously motivated
abuse and threats towards our emergency workers will never be
tolerated, regardless of where it takes place.
Under the change, offenders of abusing emergency workers in any
setting could face a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment.
Policing Minister Dame said:
Our emergency workers put themselves in harm's way every day to
keep us safe and they should never have to tolerate abuse due to
their race or religion while simply doing their job.
As part of our Plan for Change, this government is rebuilding the
bond between the public and police, and part of that means
ensuring our officers have the protections they
deserve.
By closing this loophole, we're sending a clear message that
racial and religious abuse directed towards those who serve our
communities will not be tolerated.
Health and Social Care Secretary, , said:
Our emergency workers carry out lifesaving work every day and
deserve to feel safe from violence or intimidation.
Anyone who violates this core principle brings shame on
themselves and will feel the full force of the law, wherever they
are.
I will not stand any health worker being subjected to abuse and
take a zero-tolerance approach, and these new measures will crack
down on perpetrators.
Minister for Fire, said:
All emergency service workers should be able to carry out their
duties without being subjected to unacceptable racial and
religious abuse.
This government stands firmly behind emergency service workers
and will not tolerate abusive behaviour towards those risking
their lives to keep us safe.
Andy Rhodes, Director of the National Police Wellbeing Service,
said:
Policing is an extremely fulfilling profession where officers can
make a genuine difference to people's lives and to their
communities. We welcome the amendment to the legislation, which
will better protect officers and staff who are there to protect
the public.
Sadly, the role they play means they can often be faced with some
incredibly challenging and hostile situations, especially in
private homes, and over time, this can take a toll.
The protection of our officers and staff is a clear priority for
all police chiefs. Hate crime has a devastating impact on
individual victims, and racial, and faith-based discrimination
against officers or emergency workers cannot be tolerated in any
form.