Would the police count this as an offensive weapon?
- Thread starter scorza
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Yeah but what I, and I suspect most householders, want is to know how we can defend our homes without being judged in a courtroom (which is probably quite a stressful event for a normal, law abiding person). All this "reasonable force" is a load of bulldust, since there are some ninnies here who think you can't use force at all on someone who has broken into your home but is running away.
I'm pretty sure if you purposely positioned a potential offensive weapon next to your bed with the express aim of attacking an intruder you would get done for some kind of intent... You'd have to have a very good excuse for storing a kitchen knife/baton/ baseball bat next to your bed. If on the other hand you hit someone over the head with a large maglite or similar implement which was there "in case of a power cut" then you'd probably have a legitimate excuse.
Scorza, why the need for a weapon to defend against intruders? Have you been robbed or live in a particularly bad area? We don't live in South Africa.
It always seems to be a very grey area when you hear of these people who are being tried for manslaughter because they've bopped an intruder on the head and he's now died.
I would imagine (and hope) that when most intruders see that someone is in at the home they are trying to burgle, that they would attempt to get out of there as quick as possible rather than try and fight you.
I would imagine (and hope) that when most intruders see that someone is in at the home they are trying to burgle, that they would attempt to get out of there as quick as possible rather than try and fight you.
My thought's exactly.
I just keep a telescopic steel wheel brace in the car
you need one of these.
if the police ask questions, say yuou are on the way to a star trek convention. Just make sure you have got a starfleet uniform on though ........
Anyone walking around in a Starfleet uniform carrying a Klingon Bat'leth should be arrested on principle
I don't think there is any issue using proportional force, most of the stories I've read where people have actually been convicted have been similar to Tony Martin - extreme use of force way over and above protecting their property and self. Whacking someone over the head when they are sneaking round your house - fine - repeatedly beating them until they stop breathing or are battered to a pulp - bad...
You've been burgled by ghosts twice?
Ha, no... most of the time (3), they try and steal things from the outhouse at the end of the garden... 90ft+ garden means they have ample time to jump back over the fence once they hear the back door open or see me turn the kitchen light on... so they just run away
If it's prep laced as a weapon it matters.
If it's just something you pick up that happened to be nearby that's fine.
In actually a really nice area, Upminster. We back onto a farmers field and a public footpath. Most gardens have outhouses and 70ft+ gardens... can make for easy pickings...
When the ****** move in at nearby empty land (before being ushered away) you do notice the increase in burglaries.
Price you pay for having quite a bit of green around you I guess
Soldato
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Anyone walking around in a Starfleet uniform carrying a Klingon Bat'leth should be arrested on principle
Well yeah, that's because you're not protecting anything, you're just getting revenge.
The answer to your original question is yes, they would more than likely be classed as offensive weapons out in public. There's a difference between a large torch and a bat that's been turned into a torch.
how is that different to a hammer - neither a hammer nor a torch are weapons per say and both have legitimate uses
however if a burglar breaks into your home and you threaten or whack him with a hammer or a D cell maglite then you might find both make quite effective improvised weapons and so long as you use 'reasonable force' in self defence and just grabbed something that was to hand then either are plausible
a torch shaped like a club on the other hand isn't so plausible, it is clearly designed with a dual purpose as a weapon... I very much doubt you'd be able to justify having it in a tool box/bag in the street and you might well be in hot water if used in the home
as posted earlier - a hammer is probably more effective - frankly if I felt seriously threatened by someone breaking into my home and they weren't backing off then I'd be much happier having a hammer - granted you'd have to exercise caution re: striking someone in the head with one as you could easily end up killing them
doesn't matter what they think
fact is you can use reasonable force to defend yourself and the law is quite generous with this when it comes to your own home to the point where in some situations you can kill an intruder
quite, just has to have a plausible purpose other than being used as a weapon
a set of dumbbells by the bed for your morning exercise is plausible too... the solid metal bar from one of them would make a very nasty baton if needed
baseball bat/hockey stick/rounders bat by the door by itself = dodgy... baseball bat in a cupboard by the door where you keep your trainers, sports bags, coats, tennis rackets, tennis balls, badminton rackets etc.. is plausible
carrying a big stick/bat around - dodgy - carrying a big umbrella around with a spike on the end... fine
Still a bit of a grey area... our first attempted burglary was middle of the day. We literally pulled up on the drive and went into the house just as said burglar was letting himself in the back door.
Basically he ran away and we guessed to the nearby woodland/ lake. We jumped in the car and waited for him at the other exit whilst mum phoned the police. Fact me and the old man went looking for him meant the police arrived in minutes with 2 dog units. Surely enough we found him and he jumped into some back garden, we followed, all hell broke loose and he ended up battered. Police arrived as owner of house ushered them in. Was pretty obvious we gave him a beating but nothing came of it. Might of helped that he was known to police and failed to turn up in court. Found 2 knives on him and he spent next 2 years in prison...
I love these threads, there are a small percentage of people you can tell who actively enjoy the idea of defending their home. These are the people quick to jump on the "reasonable force" policy as inadequate.
Reasonable force can mean killing the other person if your life is in danger. If I found someone in my house my number one aim would be to get them to leave not try and fight with them. What happens when they brought a claw hammer too?
Reasonable force can mean killing the other person if your life is in danger. If I found someone in my house my number one aim would be to get them to leave not try and fight with them. What happens when they brought a claw hammer too?
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