51Assaulting, etc. emergency workers, custodial officers, youth justice custodial workers or local authority staff on duty

51 Assaulting, etc. emergency workers, custodial officers, youth justice custodial workers or local authority staff on duty (1) In this section— S. 51(1) defs of *custodial officer on duty* and *custodial officer* inserted by No. 28/2016 s. 8(2), substituted as def of *custodial officer* by No. 52/2025 s. 9(1)(b). ***custodial officer*** has the same meaning as in section 10AA(8) of the **Sentencing Act 1991**; S. 51(1) defs of *emergency worker on duty* and *emergency worker* amended by No. 43/2017 s. 49(2)(a), substituted as def of *emergency worker* by No. 52/2025 s. 9(1)(a). ***emergency worker*** has the same meaning as in section 10AA(8) of the **Sentencing Act 1991**; S. 51(1) defs of *youth justice custodial worker on duty* and *youth justice custodial worker* inserted by No. 43/2017 s. 49(2)(b), substituted as def of *youth justice custodial worker* by No. 52/2025 s. 9(1)(c). ***youth justice custodial worker*** has the same meaning as in section 10AA(8) of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. S. 51(2) amended by Nos 28/2016 s. 8(3), 43/2017 s. 49(3). (2) A person must not assault, resist, obstruct, hinder or delay an emergency worker on duty, a custodial officer on duty or a youth justice custodial worker on duty. (3) A person must not assault, resist, obstruct, hinder or delay a member of staff of a local authority in the execution of the member's duty under this Act. S. 51(4) amended by Nos 28/2016 s. 8(3), 43/2017 s. 49(4). (4) A person must not assault, resist, obstruct, hinder or delay a person lawfully assisting an emergency worker on duty, a custodial officer on duty or a youth justice custodial worker on duty. S. 51(5) amended by No. 28/2016 s. 8(4), substituted by No. 43/2017 s. 49(5). (5) In addition to imposing a penalty under this section, the court may order and award a sum sufficient to cover any damage which an emergency worker, a custodial officer, a youth justice custodial worker or a member of staff of a local authority or a person lawfully assisting an emergency worker, a custodial officer or a youth justice custodial worker has sustained by the assault, resistance, obstruction, hindrance or delay. (6) A sum awarded under subsection (5) may be recovered in the same manner as the penalty. S. 51(7) inserted by No. 52/2025 s. 9(2). (7) In this section, ***on duty***— (a) in relation to an emergency worker, has the same meaning as in section 10AA(9) of the **Sentencing Act 1991**; (b) in relation to a custodial officer, has the same meaning as in section 10AA(10) of the **Sentencing Act 1991**; (c) in relation to a youth justice custodial worker, has the same meaning as in section 10AA(11) of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. S. 51A inserted by No. 79/2014 s. 59.