People who attack fire and ambulance crews in Northern Ireland should be jailed for at least nine months, a politician claimed today.
Fermanagh Assemblyman Tom Elliott said sentences needed to be toughened in line with punishments in Scotland in Scotland.
The Ulster Unionist claimed there had been 1,500 attacks on ambulance and fire crews in Northern Ireland during the past three years.
Mr Elliott said: "What we now need in Northern Ireland is similar legislation that was introduced in Scotland last year (Emergency Workers Scotland Act) which provides new penalties of nine months in jail or fines of £5,000 sterling for anyone assaulting, obstructing a person who is employed in fire service, ambulance workers, nurses and doctors.
Petrol bombs were hurled at police and fire crew in the Bogside area of Derry on Saturday night.
They were responding to the discovery of a burned out car on Fahan Street in the city.
Mr Elliott added: "People who risk their lives to save others should not be obstructed and should be free to undertake their work without obstruction and attack by yobs and thugs.
The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Bill going through Westminster this year creates a separate offence of interfering with crew punishable with a fine. It includes Northern Ireland.
Fire crew are routinely attacked at entrances to estates, often in west and north Belfast, and there have been hoax calls designed to draw emergency services into the area.
Fire Brigades Union representative Jim Barbour said it was also important to bring people before the courts.
PA