Self Defence at home

[Tucker69]

Now that the law as changed (I think) so that if someone breaks into your property, you are allowed to use minimum force to repel or detain the assailant, does this mean that the law will change to allow the use of such items as CS, Mace, Pepper Spreay & stun batton etc in the home for such protection, thus saving lives in the event that someone goes a touch to far??

[Loosehead]

The law has not changed, they have just clarified the law and the recommeneded approach to interpreting it. Essentially the the goverenment and police have cooperated to clarify what was a very murky area. It has always been true that self defence in proportion is allowed it is just that in recent times it has become unclear what is "proportionate".  It is unlikely that mace etc will be legalised.

[keen2learn]

Worth remembering though, that any weapon you keep around for your own protection could easily be used against you by an intruder, so think carefully before you turn your home into an arsenal!

[Tucker69]

I don't have any such weapons, honest..  no I'm being serious, it was an earlier topic about a wheel chair bound person who was being robbed so he used Pepper spray & is now being charged with carrying a lethal weapon, I personally think that is stupid. The guys was being held at knife point & was in a wheelchair, so the law does him for protecting himself the only way he could, not as if he had anyother way of stopping the attacker... as I said, stupid...

[woofgang]

problem is that mace and such are illegal in the uk in private hands. He's probably not being charge with carrying a lethal weapon (pepper spray is not intended to kill people), but an illegal one  

[Dom Tuk]

The best course of action in my opinion is to use your pepper spray, get the lowlife all sobbing and pleading for his wretched life  and the say to the police that you grappled the spray out of his hands and used it on him. So the spray is not yours and there will be the minor issue of the can not having his sprints on it but most of them wear gloves anyway. Hey its a tough life and you may even get a medal for bravery.

[bernardo]

The use of pepper spray, baton, bat or gun or sword or scythe or bullet is already legal for self-protection if it is reasonable in the circumstances.

[El D]

hes being charged with carrying it then, not using it. As pointed out, the law has not changed and 'reasonable' force is still the benchmark. Seeing as how everyone had such a had time comprehending it . . .

[natalie_1982]

Several programmes have been on about this lately and it's been mentioned that the homeowner can only use 'reasonable force' on the intruder, and not look like they are sat waiting for an intruder (by having an arsenal of weapons). 

If you are broken into use deoderant or furniture polish, household cleaning products, anything to spray (at the intruder not because you/ your house is dirty) but not pepper spray/ mace as it is illegal in the UK.

I think I would lock myself in my room and call 999, but if I was assaulted and had to defend myself I think you would use whatever is to hand.  Who's to say that the weapon you saved for this ocassion is to hand?  Also, as keen2learn pointed out, any weapon can be turned against yourself.

[Tucker69]

So the use of such weapons is illegal in this country but you can use furniture polish which if sprayed into someones eye's is most likely to blind them permantly due to the contents are made to getting rid of stubben marks & stains...  So why is Pepper, Mace & CS spray illegal as that only causes temporey blindness....  where's the logic in that... Having used some of the above in my previous job, I know what the effect are & personally think that they are less dangerous than nornal household cleaners...

[natalie_1982]

I'm not promoting blinding people, I'm just saying you can get prosecuted for owning illegal sprays, but not for owning furniture polish.

[El D]

because they have only an offensive purpose and the furniture cleaners are required to have the chemicals to do their job.

[derbyram]

I find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with an idea from America on this issue. One branch of the NRA (I can't remember which state) has set up a bounty scheme whereby members subscribe to this scheme and if they shoot a burglar (they don't HAVE to kill him but they don't seem to care if you do) they will pay all your legal costs and give you a 'bounty fee' of $500,000. All members who subscribe to the scheme are given stickers to place on their windows informing 'would-be intruders' that the occupants are members of the scheme. So far not one members house has been burgled and no bounty has been paid out.

[El D]

yes, yes kill them, burn them raar. After all when someone breaks the law they deserve to die. I will fix the same sticker on my car and shoot the next person I see speeding. I refuse to live in the climate of fear so prevalent and crippling among Britons today.

[Oneeyedvic]

El D - yeah but thats different ;-)

(Its my God Given right to go as fast as I want - I even think it is in the constitution)

Or maybe its just certain laws which I agree with.........

[Hgrove]

The scheme described by Derbyram sounds interesting but I think in the UK it would be unenforceable; let's say someone shot a burglar and the organisation (for whatever reason) refused to pay out.  In my opinion the "shooter" would not be able to take them to court to force them to pay him, because the aims of the organisation would be seen to be "against public policy":  the courts will not uphold an agreement which encourages people to shoot a burglar.  So, if I'm right, beware:  if someone joins such an organisation in the UK, shoots a burglar, and then the organisation refuses to pay out, they would be on their own.

[lightoftruth]

the entire system needs reworking. I heard of a farm that someone tried to steal from. the theif used the farmers ladder but the ladder broke and he fell. now the theif is sueing the farmer. the law needs to take into account the situation to which crimes are commited.

Personally the samurai got it right. someone breaks into your house then bowels away!

Also to put weapon use simply. If you sleep with a knife under your pillow its a weapon. but if your in the kitchen chopping some carrots and someone breaks in then chop away my friends.

Also a question, as long as you put up warning signs, why is it ilegal to wire your car or garage door up to a non lethal power supply?