In the United Kingdom a fire safety inspector (also known as fire officer, fire safety inspecting officer or fire safety officer) is a public law enforcement officer responsible for the enforcement fire safety legislation in the United Kingdom. As public law enforcement officers, fire inspectors are duty bound, by law, to enforce fire safety legislation in the name of the Chief Fire Officer and the Chair of the Fire Rescue Authority of the Fire & Rescue Authority they are employed by, for the protection of members of the general public. In turn the Chief Fire Officer discharges power of authority by order of a Secretary of State (In England and Wales) or their equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Fire inspectors, like any other major enforcing officers from other enforcing authorities, have the same powers of authority of that of a police constable except that they cannot arrest persons. They can not, except in the event of fire or emergency, make forceable entry, unless first obtaining a warrant. There are three distinct sets of legislation covering all four countries within the United Kingdom. They are: The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 & Fire & Rescue Services Act 2004 (England & Wales) The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (Scotland) The Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006 (Northern Ireland) Powers Background Fire authorities' powers are derived from several pieces of legislation. Fire authorities are also 'approved inspectors' under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 as "Inspectors of Health and Safety". The primary pieces of legislation are: Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Fire authorities also receive official authority from the Licensing Act 2003 and the Fireworks Act 2003. Enforcement Inspectors have powers to enter premises for the purposes of undertaking routine fire safety inspections. They can also close (prohibit) or restrict the use of unsafe buildings, issue other legal notices which enforce compliance with current fire safety legislation. Failure to comply with a notice is an ordinarily a criminal offence. Most routine inspections result in minor failings being found and this is normally dealt with by a report which asks for the deficiencies to addressed within a certain timescale. More serious cases however may warrant that immediate action is taken to reduce the risk to building occupants. In some cases the buildings may be closed