Part 6

Supplementary

Powers in the event of emergency etc

Powers of fire-fighters etc in an emergency etc
44
1
An employee of a fire and rescue authority who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purposes of this section may do anything he reasonably believes to be necessary—
a
if he reasonably believes a fire to have broken out or to be about to break out, for the purpose of extinguishing or preventing the fire or protecting life or property;
b
if he reasonably believes a road traffic accident to have occurred, for the purpose of rescuing people or protecting them from serious harm;
c
if he reasonably believes an emergency of another kind to have occurred, for the purpose of discharging any function conferred on the fire and rescue authority in relation to the emergency;
d
for the purpose of preventing or limiting damage to property resulting from action taken as mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
2
In particular, an employee of a fire and rescue authority who is authorised as mentioned in subsection (1) may under that subsection—
a
enter premises or a place, by force if necessary, without the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises or place;
b
move or break into a vehicle without the consent of its owner;
c
close a highway;
d
stop and regulate traffic;
e
restrict the access of persons to premises or a place.
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 44 in force at 7.9.2004 for specified purposes except in relation to W. and 1.10.2004 otherwise except in relation to W. by S.I. 2004/2304, art. 2 (with art. 3)
S. 44 in force at 10.11.2004 for W. by S.I. 2004/2917, art. 2
S. 44(3)(4) repealed (20.2.2007) by Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 (c. 39), ss. 6, 7(2); S.I. 2007/153, art. 2; S.I. 2007/153, art. 2
S. 44 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), arts. 1(2), 17(2)