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Original poster

People unable to defend themselves in own home??

46 replies

Triggles · 10/01/2010 09:58

uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100110/tuk-myleene-aghast-over-knife-warning-6323e80.html

What's the opinion here? Personally, I think it's a bit ridiculous - she was inside, they were outside - not to mention middle of night and they were looking in her windows. I'd probably feel differently if she ran outside brandishing the knife at them. But if she's inside, or they enter the home, I say she has every right ...

OP posts:
Heated · 10/01/2010 10:03

A neighbour said he was told by the police that having a baseball bat by the side of the bed was an offensive weapon, but if he had the ball as well, it wasn't

MitchyInge · 10/01/2010 10:05

I think a heavy metal torch makes a fantastic weapon and is a perfectly legitimate thing to brandish carry at night

or just set the dogs on them

Original poster
Triggles · 10/01/2010 10:06

Hmm... better get a ball and place it by the bed then...

OP posts:
Meglet · 10/01/2010 10:12

If I have a rolling pin next to my bed maybe I should pop a bag of flour and sugar next to it then

CaptainUnderpants · 10/01/2010 10:13

I have a hevay metal torch in the bedroom - its DH old police torch

Mamazon · 10/01/2010 10:24

the way it works is that reasonable force means using the same force as the intruder. if they use a gun you can use a gun. if they bring a knife you can use a knife.

things like rolling pins and bats are only ok if you have picked it up on the spur of the moment. if you have it stashed by your bed then you have intended to use a weapon and that is a criminal act. if the intruder breaks in and you smash the lamp over his head then its not.

does that make sense? cos i think i may have just confused myself

paulaplumpbottom · 10/01/2010 12:03

I think this is so silly. People have a right to protect themselves.

MrsChemist · 10/01/2010 15:35

my brother was told by a police officer that big metal torches were the way to go, because if you hit an intruder with it, you have a legitimate reason for having the torch (unless you get burgled in the day, of course)

Don't thinks that's the polices' official line on the subject though

onagar · 10/01/2010 15:48

You should be able to put a sign in your window saying "I use UNreasonable force on attackers. They generally end up in intensive care."

I'm not sure how to use the same force as a burgler anyway. Do you have to say "excuse me! can I see your knife/bat so I can go fetch one the same size"

paulaplumpbottom · 10/01/2010 16:04

Onagar I think I'm going to make a sign saying just that. I'll make it look very shabby chic and hang it by the front door

Heated · 10/01/2010 16:21

Was listening to Jezza Vine on R2 months ago in the car and the advice was from the 'expert' that if you took protective measures like putting that gripper stuff at the top of the fence to stop ppl climbing over that as long as you put up a warning notice, even if it was tiny, you were covered if an unsuspecting burglar got hurt.

But imo surely being harmed and possibly killed by an aggravated and frightened house owner is just an occupational hazard if you're a burglar?

DorotheaPlenticlew · 10/01/2010 16:34

Pretty much agree with the OP. I can easily imagine that if I was alone with my toddler and saw people trespassing in my garden, I might try to scare them off in whatever way seemed quickest -- even if that meant waving a knife (tho' I suspect that if they saw her do it at all, it would only have made the bastards snicker). It doesn't really seem like something she should be chastised for.

Possibly it wasn't a hugely effective or smart thing to do, but I feel a bit sorry for her having it reported in the news. It's hard to be entirely rational if you're suddenly made to feel panicky and vulnerable, with a DC to protect. You'd immediately imagine the worst outcome and hell yes, you'd want some sort of weapon.

Didn't Myleene get randomly attacked in the street once by a bunch of girls, for no particular reason other than that they recognized her?

FuriousGeorge · 10/01/2010 18:33

O dear.I once chased a gang of car thieves down the street whilst wielding a big iron poker.In my defence,it was the first thing that came to hand as I rushed downstairs.I didn't catch them though,although I could hear the girl who was with them crying somewhere.in the field behind the house.We found their gloves and a tyre iron the next morning,so we'd have been pretty evenly matched weaponwise.

We keep a big heavy maglight torch by the bed these days.

KimiLivesInStarbucks · 10/01/2010 18:46

This is totally stupid, just goes to show in this sorry arse country that the scumbags have all the rights.

Morloth · 10/01/2010 20:09

No-one is going to seriously stop and wonder what the law is in this sort of situation are they? I know I wouldn't.

LetThereBeRock · 10/01/2010 20:33

I wouldn't either Morloth.

If someone has forced their way into my home or appears to be attempting to do so then my only thought would be to defend myself and my family and I'd use anything I had to do so if that's a knife or a blunt object.

LetThereBeRock · 10/01/2010 20:35

And even if I did think about the law for a second it'd be the least of my worries.
I'd rather be alive to face judge and jury in court than risk my family having to plan my funeral.

littleducks · 10/01/2010 20:39

Yes i specially bought one of those large metal torches and stash it near me in my car, just in case as i think if i used it i wouldnt be in too much trouble.....is also very practical and bright!

Dh has a socket set/some big metal tool in his car, which i do worry about him having but then the chances of him ever having to use it are far less than me i suppose...

And before anyone asks, yes we do drive in some dodgy places, i do an evening class so walk across big uni carpark at 10pm etc.

Heqet · 10/01/2010 20:40

I seriously think that you should be able to do whatever you have to to be safe from someone who breaks into your property to steal from you and who would, in all probability, cave your head in given half a chance.

What kind of world do we live in when a burglar can sue you (and win) if he is injured while robbing you? [boggle]

In a few more years, it will be a crime to fail to aid a criminal and we'll all be expected to help them out to the van with our belongings.

hurumph.

Miggsie · 10/01/2010 20:45

I'd counter sue claiming long term mental damage caused by the event...funny how criminals can always afford lawyers isn't it?

bamboobutton · 10/01/2010 20:49

we live in the middle of nowhere and if anyone broke into our house in the night i would happily blast them to kingdom come Tony Martin style!

i would happily do jail time too if it meant my ds was safe.

JackBauer · 10/01/2010 20:55

DH and I are still shocked from reading about the blokey who was held captiv e in his house with his wife and kids, told that they were going to be killed, and then, when his friend arrived and rescued them, chased one of the attacked down the street and put him in hospital.
And he got sent down.
And the other 2 attackers were never found.

JackBauer · 10/01/2010 20:59

This poor guy who is still in jail, even though the attacked isn't, because he used reasonable force.

Dh said if someone tied up and threatened DC's and I he'd chase them down the street and smack them too. Who wouldn't in the heat of the moment to make sure they don't come back!

But in response to OP, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but Myleene Klass is absolutely in the right.

KimiLivesInStarbucks · 10/01/2010 21:28

I can tell you now hand on heart that if someone broke in to my home and attacked my family I would use enough force to put them in a wooden box.

The law is a joke, our police are puppets and decent people have to kowtow down to the scum in this country because the scum have all the rights.

BadgersPaws · 11/01/2010 09:33

"Dh said if someone tied up and threatened DC's and I he'd chase them down the street and smack them too. Who wouldn't in the heat of the moment to make sure they don't come back!"

Chasing after them once they've fled and hitting them crosses the line between self defence and someone taking it upon themselves to punish or take revenge on the intruders, which is illegal.

That is why Munir Hussain has been put in prison. The attackers of his family had fled and he then went after them.

If he'd caused the same injuries while actually in his home and trying to drive the attackers off then that would have been self-defence rather than assault.

Well that's the legal theory anyway.

I'd be very interested in seeing what does actually happen to people who do attack someone within their home when it clearly is self defence.