Written evidence to be reported to the House

Part of Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 5:30 pm on 16 October 2007.

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Jan Berry: No; I take your point. From our perspective, we probably have 20 or 30 times more problems in hospitals than we ever do in doctors’ surgeries, so I suppose you focus on those premises where there is a particular problem. However, you are absolutely right about the general principle. In evidence that we have given on other Bills, we have suggested that there should be a specific offence of assaulting emergency service workers. Fire officers are in exactly the same situation. People outrightly obstruct them when they are trying to undertake their functions.

The provision is specific to the national health service. We support it, but I take your point that it could go further in certain circumstances.