It is intended to reduce the instances of obstruction of, or assaults on, emergency service personnel.

[3] The corresponding Swedish law is called sabotage mot blåljusverksamhet [sv] (blåljussabotage for short, literally bluelight sabotage in English).

The Act defines emergency service personnel to cover firefighters, paramedics or other persons responding on behalf of the statutory ambulance service, members of HM Coastguard, and crew of a vessel of the RNLI or any other lifeboat.

The Act makes it an offence to obstruct any emergency service crew while responding to an emergency, whether physically or not, punishable by a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale.

[4] The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I.