They cannot be serious can they ?

Its totally insane and we allow the government to get away with it!!!

It seems you have to wait for the intruder, even in your home to produce his weapon first!!!

If you want to trespass and burgle then the associated risks are part of the job as it were.

Its amazing but we have to stop to take action - see our MPs and ask what action they will take on such things in a new parliament - mind you it would probably offend the civil rights of the culprits and end up being rejected under EU law.
 
"Hertfordshire police warned her she should not have used a knife to scare off the youths because carrying an "offensive weapon", even in her own home, was illegal."

That is daft, surely mis-reported? She was in her kitchen, with a kitchen knife. It is not an offensive weapon!
 
I think we should all call our local police force and ask them to come round to our homes to carve our sunday joints

The police have totally lost the plot and the remnants of respect - FACT
 
"That is daft, surely mis-reported? She was in her kitchen, with a kitchen knife. It is not an offensive weapon!"
But she waved it the men not at the chicken or the roast and thus threatened the men with an offensive weapon.
I think in law she has to wait until they produce the offensive weapon!! That maybe too late for her but too bad. Why should the law allow for a women alone in a house being scared of a few strange men in her garden?

I know a fish farm where the fish were protected inside a compound with two dogs inside and a large notice to that effect. Thieves cut a hole through the mesh and crawled into the compound - the dogs savaged them and hurt them. The owner was fined because of that and the dogs lost their lives - the criminals were not even charged!!!!

Yet we all put up with it ...... we need to change the law big time.
 
It might help if all persons concerned were to sign an on-line petition as a means of making their elected representatives/ MP's,Aware ,of the need to change aspects of this law.
 
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Irish "self defence" laws were amended in the late 90s to permit the defence of ones person, family and property using physical force should and intruder break into a private residence. The proposals at the time specifically made reference to the use of a shotgun for self defence in the family home after the hours of darkness. There are current proposals to strengthen the law in that respect even more (ie use of lethal force as last resort no longer to cause an automatic charge of manslaughter based on self defence). Pre 1997 such unfortunate cases had to go to court even though in 99% of cases the defendants (ie victims of crime) was found to be innocent and acting in self defence. The new law will mean such cases may not have to go to court. Thankfully many past cases did not involve intruder fatalities but injury to intruders as persons defended their home and person.
 
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Firestone said:
It might help if all waterway & boaty forums,Collectively, got their members to sign on-line a petition as a means of contacting their elected representatives/ MP's, to change aspects of this law.
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I thought the online petition system was designed to quell any urges to protest, by making people feel they were making their point heard?
 
Soon it will be a H & S requirement that first aid kits are readily available for intruders to deal with any cuts arising from injuries incurred whilst breaking your windows, and anti-tetanus shots in case your dog does his duty in protecting you and bites them!
The social food chain has been completely inverted with the amoeba having more rights then the intelligent, law abiding workers.
 
As an ex Met copper, on the streets all my service, I have to cringe when I hear of things like this going on. If I was put in the same situation as the lady I would be out and after the creeps with suitable weaponry, and if challenged I would not hesitate in using it. Been retired since 1986, but in my book criminals are criminals, and those of today far more violent than of yore. I suppose this will get a mixed response.
 
I have been told by a senior policeman that he keeps a shotgun under his bed and would use it.

It is not the police, it is the government that is to blame. Basically governments have betrayed the very essence of fair play and ruined the country. If on a jury in such a case I would refuse a guilty vote even if directed by the judge!

This was a weak women compared to the males outside her house - had their been a confrontation they had the advantages of numbers and strength - to blame a women for arming herself in that situation is absurd beyond belief. None of my USA friends would believe it possible.
 
About ten years ago I chased down two teenage burglars I saw leaving my neighbours house. I caught them and restrained them, with their stolen goods, while the police were called (they took 40 minutes to arrive).

My wife, rightly, gave me a roasting afterwards for not considering the possible consequences.

Later I was interviewed by a police officer concerning a possible charge of assault against me because one of the youths had cuts on his hands (caused by climbing through bushes to get to my neighbour's house). My hands were examined and there were no marks at all on them and so nothing came of it.

I never heard the outcome of the proceedings - complete silence.

Would I do it again - absolutely NOT !

Would I voluntarily come forward as a witness - absolutely NOT having heard the tales of DNA being demanded of witnesses and this being permanently added to the National DNA Database. Please don't give me any comments regarding ' if you've nothing to hide etc.'.

It doesn't pay to be public spirited in this country. You may well end up stigmatised (DNA).

Would I defend my family in the home - ABSOLUTELY - using whatever I had to hand.

Tom
 
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Offensive Weapon

Actually the law is not a big an ass as it is being portrayed. However it our inadquately trained police who are making up their own rules as usual.

I am certain that the poster who used to be a police officer was given excellent law training, this is no longer the case, they do not have to learn definitions any longer, hence they give out incorrect advice.

S.1 Prevention of Crime Act 1953:

"(1) Any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him in public place any offensive weapon shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable-"

Punishable on summary conviction by 3 months imprisonment or level 5 fine; on indictment by 2 years imprisonment and/or maximum fine.

All parts of the definition have to be met for offence to be complete;

Certainly NOT a public place and reasonable excuse (Maybe) Lady was alone in the kitchen of her own home and not unreasonable to pick up the first item to come to hand when frightened by intruders.

Just another case of police opening mouth before engaging brain
 
Well i'm very very relaxed but if someone was breaking into my house i wouldn't think twice about shooting them if i was defending my family. So what if i get locked up, my family would still be alive.
 
Latestarter1 said:
Actually the law is not a big an ass as it is being portrayed. However it our inadquately trained police who are making up their own rules as usual.

I am certain that the poster who used to be a police officer was given excellent law training, this is no longer the case, they do not have to learn definitions any longer, hence they give out incorrect advice.

S.1 Prevention of Crime Act 1953:

"(1) Any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him in public place any offensive weapon shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable-"

Punishable on summary conviction by 3 months imprisonment or level 5 fine; on indictment by 2 years imprisonment and/or maximum fine.

All parts of the definition have to be met for offence to be complete;

Certainly NOT a public place and reasonable excuse (Maybe) Lady was alone in the kitchen of her own home and not unreasonable to pick up the first item to come to hand when frightened by intruders.

Just another case of police opening mouth before engaging brain
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got to make you right, but who is training the trainers?? a little while back us old farts were asked to go back to teach "streetcraft" to the recruits, I wonder if any of us did, not seen many reports of "new" bobbies getting the sack lately, so maybe none of us did.
 
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