LONDON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Britain will take legal action against people obstructing the jobs of emergency workers from this week.
British Home Office Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said obstructions affect emergency workers' abilities to do their jobs effectively.
"Too often emergency workers are unable to get to incidents as quickly as they should due to a minority of people obstructing their rescue efforts," Sutcliffe said.
Defaulters who hinder the efforts of emergency responders will be fined up to $9,756 (5,000 pounds). The new law does not apply to police and prison officers in Britain as separate laws already make acts of violence against them illegal.
The beneficiaries of this latest legislation are fire fighters, ambulance workers, coast guards, lifeboat crews and transporters of National Health Service organ donations.
The Home Office Minister stressed the benefits of the new law, which he added also helps "those who require emergency response."
"A few minutes can mean the difference between life and death," Sutcliffe said.
