THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Householders who stab burglars will not face criminal charges, Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary, said yesterday.
He announced that an act of Parliament would be used to "clarify" the existing legal right to use "reasonable force" against intruders.
His remarks come after a householder was arrested on suspicion of murder following the stabbing of a burglar at a house in Salford, Greater Manchester, last week.
David Cameron has promised that the new Justice Bill would "put beyond doubt that home owners and small shopkeepers who use reasonable force to defend themselves or their properties will not be prosecuted".
Yesterday, Mr Clarke spelt out the sort of action that would be permitted under the new regime. He made clear that it would remain illegal to pursue intruders to attack them or to shoot them as they fled.
The Justice Secretary said: "If an old lady finds she has got an 18 year-old burgling her house and she picks up a kitchen knife and sticks it in him, she has not committed a criminal offence and we will make that clear." » | Thursday, June 30, 2011
