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Martial Arts Topics / Clarifying UK home defense law
« on: February 01, 2005, 11:50:43 AM »Quote
Britons May Kill in Self-Defense, Law Enforcers Say (Update1)
Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Britons may kill intruders to their homes in self-defense, so long as the householders have used ``reasonable force,'' U.K. law enforcers said in a leaflet designed to clarify British law.
Householders are entitled to protect themselves using weapons and may use defensive force before being attacked if they are in fear of their lives or those of others, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service said today in an e-mailed leaflet.
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At least 11 people have been prosecuted in the past 15 years for attacking intruders in houses, commercial premises or private land, U.K. Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald said on Jan. 13. Seven of those cases were as a result of a domestic household burglary.
May I point out that 11 prosecutions in 15 years doesn't exactly tally with the media perception that UK law sides with the criminal.
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``Prosecutions of householders for tackling intruders are extremely rare,'' Macdonald said today. ``Even where householders have badly injured, or even killed burglars, the CPS has declined to prosecute unless they have used wholly excessive force.''
He was just on Channel 4 news stating that the vast majority of cases where homeowners have shot, stabbed, bludgeoned, or otherwise killed burglars have not led to any prosecution.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=atQEZ4jdfclM&refer=europe
*pats escrima stick tucked neatly by the bed*