cases the offenders could be sent to prison. Scotland In emergencies An employee of a fire and rescue authority who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purposes of Section 25 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and on duty may: if the employee reasonably believes that a fire has broken out, do anything the employee reasonably believes to be necessary for the purpose of— extinguishing the fire; or protecting life or property; if the employee reasonably believes that a road traffic accident has occurred, do anything the employee reasonably believes to be necessary for the purpose of— rescuing people; or protecting them from serious harm; if the employee reasonably believes that an emergency other than a fire or road traffic accident has occurred, do anything the employee reasonably believes to be necessary for the purpose of carrying out any function conferred on the authority in relation to the emergency; and do anything the employee reasonably believes to be necessary for the purpose of preventing or limiting damage to property resulting from action taken as mentioned above. An authorised employee may in particular: enter premises or a place (by force if necessary); move a vehicle without the consent of its owner; force open and enter a lockfast vehicle; close a road; stop and regulate traffic; restrict the access of persons to premises or a place. Carrying out of functions An employee of a fire and rescue authority who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purposes of section 28 may at any reasonable time enter premises for the purpose of obtaining information needed for the carrying out of the authority’s functions under section 9, section 10 or section 11 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. An authorised employee may not: enter premises by force; or demand admission to premises occupied as a private dwelling unless 24 hours' notice in writing has first been given to the occupier of the dwelling. If, on the application of an authorised employee, a sheriff or justice of the peace is satisfied that: it is necessary for the employee to enter premises, and the employee is unable to do so, or is likely to be unable to do so, otherwise than by force, the sheriff or justice may issue a warrant authorising the employee to enter the premises by force at any reasonable time. If a sheriff or justice of the