Tories to propose "Batter a Burglar" law

Freakbro said:
Because that is the case the news seem to be using as reference when talking about this proposal, which seems highly inappropriate.
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Indeed.

I can't understand why the news would use that case as reference, at least use the recent one in which a burglar was stabbed and... oh wait, that would be because they got away with it (meaning the law is already fine....). ;)
 
I cant stand locks that automatically lock the door when closed, had those in student accomodation and I kept locking myself out.
 
bhavv said:
I cant stand locks that automatically lock the door when closed, had those in student accomodation and I kept locking myself out.
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not to mention a suitable skinny smack head can put their hands through the letterbox and flick the yale.

this happened a few times to us in one of our student houses until we realised what was going on.
 
I can't believe the Naivety of some of the comments here.

Do you really think there's an unwritten burglar code whereby they don't go into premises tooled up because they know people won't touch them for fear of getting into trouble?

Pull the other one! :-D

A lot of houses the man of the house will still have a go regardless. If I heard someone shuffling through my house on the way to my childs bedroom looking for swag or summat I'm not going to lie there thinking "better not, I'll get in trouble with the law".

Burglars know this and go in with weapons anyway.


A great proposal and very sensible.



"this is awful because criminals may now carry weapons".... Moaning for moanings sake if you ask me.
 
Andy__C said:
I can't believe the Naivety of some of the comments here.

Do you really think there's an unwritten burglar code whereby they don't go into premises tooled up because they know people won't touch them for fear of getting into trouble?

Pull the other one! :-D

A lot of houses the man of the house will still have a go regardless. If I heard someone shuffling through my house on the way to my childs bedroom looking for swag or summat I'm not going to lie there thinking "better not, I'll get in trouble with the law".

Burglars know this and go in with weapons anyway.


A great proposal and very sensible.



"this is awful because criminals may now carry weapons".... Moaning for moanings sake if you ask me.
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coming up to the bedrooms is a different matter entirely, i imagine most burglaries take place on the ground floors only, obviously if theres a direct risk to your family you would defend yourself. that goes without saying!
 
And all of the people saying "finally, we can defend ourselves" when you could anyway are equally as naive or stupid.
 
Tombo said:
And all of the people saying "finally, we can defend ourselves" when you could anyway are equally as naive or stupid.
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Exactly, the current law is very clear and allows you to use reasonable force to defend yourself and property. Yes you will be arrested if you beat a burglar up but once questioned you will be released without charge in 99% of cases. The only people who do time for assaulting burglars are those that beat people half to death or shoot them as they are running away neither of which should be encouraged in a civilised society!
 
kitch9 said:
You do realise burglars already carry tools yes? Mole grips, (To snap cheap euro locks in 10 seconds.) screwdrivers, (Also to snap cheap euro locks in seconds.) and a hammer will generally get you into a property with cheap euro locks in around 10 seconds. They will also so a decent amount of damage if you are hit / stabbed by them.....

If you have cheap euro locks fitted you should be taking a long hard look at them as burglars will target your house before anyone elses who may require at least a little bit of work to get in.

http://www.avocet-hardware.co.uk/

You need something like these fitted instead.
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You're talking about a totally different type of burglar.

People who are tooled up case the joint, they're professionals, they don't want to risk altercations. They will do the job when you're not on the premises and they will know when it is safe to enter. They're not looking for a fight.

It's the 3am smash-a-window crack addicts looking to nick a TV or laptop to feed their addiction that will stab you in the face with a knife. Their desperation fuels their preparedness for violence if confronted.
 
It's a good proposal, having to worry about going to jail when someone is robbing your house is obscene. If someone broke into my house where my child and wife were I would not think twice of putting them down for good to make sure there was no risk to my family.

As long as the law is clear and doesn't promote vigilantism or revenge attacks but allows you to protet yourself, family and property with whatever force you choose them that's a great thing.
 
No1newts said:
It's a good proposal, having to worry about going to jail when someone is robbing your house is obscene. If someone broke into my house where my child and wife were I would not think twice of putting them down for good to make sure there was no risk to my family.

As long as the law is clear and doesn't promote vigilantism or revenge attacks but allows you to protet yourself, family and property with whatever force you choose them that's a great thing.
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It already is clear, to everyone except tabloid editors and (apparently) people on forums. Again: this is not a change in the law. Will people please try to understand this. The police will just be asked nicely not to arrest people who claim self-defence in or near their houses. The problem is, it is actually in the householder's own interest to be arrested in such circumstances, because it gives them a whole load of rights that they otherwise don't have. The police are still (thank God) going to investigate the circumstances. Either way, that's all that will happen (if anything) due to this "change of policy". It's a headline grabber, with no actual meaning, and this forum is full of people who have fallen for it.
 
Meridian said:
It already is clear, to everyone except tabloid editors and (apparently) people on forums. Again: this is not a change in the law. Will people please try to understand this. The police will just be asked nicely not to arrest people who claim self-defence in or near their houses. The problem is, it is actually in the householder's own interest to be arrested in such circumstances, because it gives them a whole load of rights that they otherwise don't have. The police are still (thank God) going to investigate the circumstances. Either way, that's all that will happen (if anything) due to this "change of policy". It's a headline grabber, with no actual meaning, and this forum is full of people who have fallen for it.
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This sums up how I feel about it.
 
Meridian said:
It already is clear, to everyone except tabloid editors and (apparently) people on forums. Again: this is not a change in the law. Will people please try to understand this. The police will just be asked nicely not to arrest people who claim self-defence in or near their houses. The problem is, it is actually in the householder's own interest to be arrested in such circumstances, because it gives them a whole load of rights that they otherwise don't have. The police are still (thank God) going to investigate the circumstances. Either way, that's all that will happen (if anything) due to this "change of policy". It's a headline grabber, with no actual meaning, and this forum is full of people who have fallen for it.
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Heh - that's more or less what I was going to post (though you probably presented it in more articulate manner!)

Also, increased publicity of this "fact" is more likely to encourage opportunistic burglars (addicts etc) to go in 'armed', and lash out first to help make their escape.

But hey - what politician ever turned down a populist headline? Next the Tories will be presenting themselves as the "anti-pothole" party. :p
 
So what's actually changed.

Dissportinate violence was unlawful, it's still unlawful.


"Householders who act instinctively and honestly in self-defence are victims of crime and should be treated that way.
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That's the case anyway.
 
Muel said:
Whether people decide to tackle a burglar or not is up to them, but the law should allow for someone to defend their own property.

Personally, I don't think I would take one on, unless it was very clear that I was going to come out on top, but it annoys me that I can be prosecuted for doing so at the moment.
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+1 to all this
 
Meridian said:
It already is clear, to everyone except tabloid editors and (apparently) people on forums. Again: this is not a change in the law. Will people please try to understand this. The police will just be asked nicely not to arrest people who claim self-defence in or near their houses. The problem is, it is actually in the householder's own interest to be arrested in such circumstances, because it gives them a whole load of rights that they otherwise don't have. The police are still (thank God) going to investigate the circumstances. Either way, that's all that will happen (if anything) due to this "change of policy". It's a headline grabber, with no actual meaning, and this forum is full of people who have fallen for it.
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I think (hope) the reiteration is to stop people like Mr Ferrie (who shot at burglars at his remote cottage in September this year) from been arrested, treat as a criminal and held for 36+ hours for clearly doing nothing more than protecting his home and wife. Yes, let the police question you but seriously why the need for such a long time in custody.
 
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