Legislation establishing protections for emergency workers published

Published this week, the Crimes (Assaults on Emergency Workers) (Amendment) Bill (‘the Bill’) has been drafted to enhance protection for police officers and other emergency workers by introducing stricter penalties for assaults against them.

The Bill strengthens protections for emergency workers in Gibraltar by amending the Crimes Act 2011. It introduces a specific offence for assaults against emergency workers, carrying penalties of up to 12 months’ imprisonment on summary conviction or 2 years on indictment.

The law also establishes that attacks on emergency workers are aggravating factors in sentencing for serious crimes such as manslaughter, wounding, and sexual assault.

The draft legislation defines emergency workers to include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, fire and rescue personnel, medical staff, and search and rescue teams. It applies even when an emergency worker is off duty but performing functions they would carry out in their role.

The legislation has been drafted in consultation with the Royal Gibraltar Police, the Gibraltar Police Federation and other key stakeholders, “following a rise in the number of assaults on police officers in recent years.” The Bill aims to deter violence against those who serve and protect the public while ensuring that courts treat such offences with the appropriate severity.

The main elements of the Bill are the creation of a new offence for assaulting emergency workers, enhanced penalties for such offences, such assaults being treated as aggravating factors for sentencing in serious crimes against emergency workers, a broad definition of emergency workers encompassing healthcare and rescue personnel, and protection that applies both on and off duty when acting in an official capacity.

The Minister for Justice, the Hon Nigel Feetham KC MP, said: “This Bill underscores the Government's commitment to safeguarding those who serve and protect the community. By imposing harsher penalties and recognizing the unique risks faced by emergency workers, the Bill aims to deter assaults and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions. My special thanks go to the Gibraltar Police Federation who have engaged positively throughout the drafting process and have indicated their support of the changes contained therein.”

To view the text of the Bill, click the following link to download it from the Gibraltar Parliament website.

https://www.parliament.gi/uploads/contents/bills/2025/2025B02.pdf

The Gibraltar Government press release can be found here.