Brat7748
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Police chiefs have urged householders not to confront intruders, but to call 999 and lock themselves in safely until help arrives.
Their advice was issued last night after a judge defended the actions of a retired man who shot an intruder who had returned for the third time to break into his isolated country home.
The judge's comments were hailed by victims' groups as the first sign of "common sense" on the rights of householders to defend their property.
However, the police counselled caution - while admitting that the public had little faith in their ability to turn up in time.
The debate surrounding the definition of what constitutes the use of "reasonable force" against intruders was revived by Judge Andrew Hamilton's comments on Monday during the trial of John Rae, a burglar.
Rae, 22, who was jailed for seven years for a string of burglaries and other crimes, was shot in the leg by Kenneth Faulkner, 73, at his home in Ockbrook, Derbyshire.
Mr Faulkner was only told shortly before the trial that he would not be prosecuted over the shooting.
The judge said that he had "sensibly" armed himself with a shotgun and no one could criticise him for what he did. "It is only a pity that charges were considered against him," he added.
Norman Brennan, the director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said the judge had made clear that the law should be on the side of the property-owner not the criminal.
"If the householder needs to protect their home and the burglar sustains injuries, then those injuries are the burglar's fault," he said. "Householders should only be put before the criminal courts in exceptional circumstances."
David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said he was "open to suggestions" about any changes in the law. However, he did not consider that recent incidents - which include the alleged murder in London of a 45-year-old teacher by a burglar - justified any.
The police said that while householders could use "reasonable force" when confronted by a burglar, their advice was not to intervene.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said in a statement: "You can use force, but it has to be reasonable. Police are restrained by that as well.
"Whether the line is crossed is a decision for the courts to make. We don't believe in vigilantism or excess violence."
Chief Supt Ian Johnston, vice-president of the Superintendents Association of England and Wales, said: "The advice should be, first of all, take commonsense crime prevention steps around your property.
"But if you are broken into - and I know most people will look at this and say 'It's very good for him to say that in the cold light of day' - really and truly, you should ring the police. You should not approach the intruder."
He added: "If the intruder steals some of your property, that's far better than someone getting killed. Ring police and secure yourself and your family, but stress that there is a person on the premises. That really is the only advice we would give."
The advice comes at a time when public confidence in the police has been severely shaken by recent incidents in which officers failed to take immediate action when called out to deal with gunmen.
Senior officers readily concede that the public is sceptical about the speed of police responses and accept that their advice is of little comfort to residents - especially those in the countryside - who hear disturbing noises in their homes during the night.
However, police maintain that if householders make clear that an intruder is on the premises they will respond quickly.
Mr Johnston said: "People will also say - and I have some sympathy for their thoughts - 'What would he do at 2am or 3am when he hears noises downstairs?' I understand that, but we must give that very firm advice - do not approach the intruder."
He added that police were "definitely not" advising people to have weapons in their homes. "We would not tell the public to arm themselves with any weapon, legal or illegal. Burglars could be on drink or drugs and that's why we give the advice we do."
Mr Johnston said the legal situation in Britain was different from that in America. "If someone dared to enter someone's property in the States they would be within their constitutional rights to protect their property. And I dare say people in this country would say, 'What happened to an Englishman's castle?'
"The police are reflecting the law, but within that we can understand when people decide to have a go and protect their property and families. But our advice to them is please don't."
Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright
From a post at the FreeRepiblic
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1258098/posts
Their advice was issued last night after a judge defended the actions of a retired man who shot an intruder who had returned for the third time to break into his isolated country home.
The judge's comments were hailed by victims' groups as the first sign of "common sense" on the rights of householders to defend their property.
However, the police counselled caution - while admitting that the public had little faith in their ability to turn up in time.
The debate surrounding the definition of what constitutes the use of "reasonable force" against intruders was revived by Judge Andrew Hamilton's comments on Monday during the trial of John Rae, a burglar.
Rae, 22, who was jailed for seven years for a string of burglaries and other crimes, was shot in the leg by Kenneth Faulkner, 73, at his home in Ockbrook, Derbyshire.
Mr Faulkner was only told shortly before the trial that he would not be prosecuted over the shooting.
The judge said that he had "sensibly" armed himself with a shotgun and no one could criticise him for what he did. "It is only a pity that charges were considered against him," he added.
Norman Brennan, the director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said the judge had made clear that the law should be on the side of the property-owner not the criminal.
"If the householder needs to protect their home and the burglar sustains injuries, then those injuries are the burglar's fault," he said. "Householders should only be put before the criminal courts in exceptional circumstances."
David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said he was "open to suggestions" about any changes in the law. However, he did not consider that recent incidents - which include the alleged murder in London of a 45-year-old teacher by a burglar - justified any.
The police said that while householders could use "reasonable force" when confronted by a burglar, their advice was not to intervene.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said in a statement: "You can use force, but it has to be reasonable. Police are restrained by that as well.
"Whether the line is crossed is a decision for the courts to make. We don't believe in vigilantism or excess violence."
Chief Supt Ian Johnston, vice-president of the Superintendents Association of England and Wales, said: "The advice should be, first of all, take commonsense crime prevention steps around your property.
"But if you are broken into - and I know most people will look at this and say 'It's very good for him to say that in the cold light of day' - really and truly, you should ring the police. You should not approach the intruder."
He added: "If the intruder steals some of your property, that's far better than someone getting killed. Ring police and secure yourself and your family, but stress that there is a person on the premises. That really is the only advice we would give."
The advice comes at a time when public confidence in the police has been severely shaken by recent incidents in which officers failed to take immediate action when called out to deal with gunmen.
Senior officers readily concede that the public is sceptical about the speed of police responses and accept that their advice is of little comfort to residents - especially those in the countryside - who hear disturbing noises in their homes during the night.
However, police maintain that if householders make clear that an intruder is on the premises they will respond quickly.
Mr Johnston said: "People will also say - and I have some sympathy for their thoughts - 'What would he do at 2am or 3am when he hears noises downstairs?' I understand that, but we must give that very firm advice - do not approach the intruder."
He added that police were "definitely not" advising people to have weapons in their homes. "We would not tell the public to arm themselves with any weapon, legal or illegal. Burglars could be on drink or drugs and that's why we give the advice we do."
Mr Johnston said the legal situation in Britain was different from that in America. "If someone dared to enter someone's property in the States they would be within their constitutional rights to protect their property. And I dare say people in this country would say, 'What happened to an Englishman's castle?'
"The police are reflecting the law, but within that we can understand when people decide to have a go and protect their property and families. But our advice to them is please don't."
Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright
From a post at the FreeRepiblic
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1258098/posts
:banghead: 