Defending my home against intruders

[Talon]

Swords are perfectly legal to own in the UK,including the Katana (as long as it has been hand forged and not machine made you can buy a brand new one).I own several swords including the obligatory Katana.All of my swords are mounted on racks to the left of my bed.
You would be much better served with a cricket bat.
Tartar is right.A sword without any training or practice in it's use could be just as dangerous to the wielder.I practice with my swords often but keep a high quality Bokken by the side of my bed .

The idea of a burglary or home invasion is a scary thought and one I've thought often about.I've decided right or wrong that the chances of someone breaking into my home with the thought of causing me harm would be slim.And the chance of me doing time with excessive use of force is deeply concerning for me.

We don't have the castle law in this country (mores the pity) so any response by the home owner has to be able to stand up in a court of law as being reasonable force.The jury seeing pictures of a sword embedded in the chest of a deceased unarmed burglar could give your defense a few headaches.

A cricket bat is a sporting implement as well as an incidental weapon.Keep a cricket ball and some stumps near it.

Of course all of this sensible reasoning could go straight out the window if I'm faced with an intruder.In a half awake panic I could very likely just grab my favourite sharp sword,loose an arrow down the staircase or open the gun cabinet if I had time. I honestly couldn't say for sure.I hope I never have to find out.

[Devonian]

The following web page gives you the 'legal' stance on what you can and cannot do:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/prose...lders.html

This is the standard to which your actions will be considered.

As others have said, if you use reasonable force 'inside' your home to protect yourself from intruders, you will not be prosecuted.

There have been plenty of recent cases where householders have not been prosecuted and very few cases where they have been prosecuted, all of which have been where the householders have used grossly disproportionate force. If anything the law protecting the householder has been significantly reinforced since the Tony Martin incident.

[MaryN]

My personal response to burglars is having a large, noisy dog (he bites - good luck getting into my house); large can of hairspray; hefty poker, and a large OH who has done the self-defence training and isn't too thrilled by the thought of intruders.

Actually, Tony Martin lives in my area. There was a lot of support for his actions.

[Barneyboy]

just to help ,how about de icer with a jet stream spray not the mist ,hurts like a bar@#ard or so I have been told

[Smudge]

I posted this on survivalistboards, I'll repost it here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19886504

My favourite:

How likely is prosecution?

There have been very few prosecutions in these circumstances. Between 1990 and 2005 there were 11 prosecutions of people who attacked intruders. Seven of them related to domestic burglaries. One of the cases that was prosecuted involved a man who lay in wait for an intruder and then beat him, threw him into a pit and set him alight.

Some cases and news articles: There is at least one fire arms incident from what I remember.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...l-burglar.html
http://protectyourself.cc/homeowner-...-self-defence/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/d...re/3954033.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-intruder.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2550627.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...aid-death.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/ap...charge-dropped
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...f-defence.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-19496531
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ence-post.html

Pre-emptive attack as defense: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/s...e/#Pre-emptive

Pre-emptive strikes
There is no rule in law to say that a person must wait to be struck first before they may defend themselves, (see R v Deana, 2 Cr App R 75).

Duty to retreat: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/s...ce/#Retreating

Retreating
Failure to retreat when attacked and when it is possible and safe to do so, is not conclusive evidence that a person was not acting in self defence. It is simply a factor to be taken into account rather than as giving rise to a duty to retreat when deciding whether the degree of force was reasonable in the circumstances (section 76(6) Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008). It is not necessary that the defendant demonstrates by walking away that he does not want to engage in physical violence: (R v Bird 81 Cr App R 110).

If you put your hands out in front of you (palms outwards), take one step back and say STOP, you have fulfilled your "duty to retreat". Then its "Teach him a lesson boys, teach him all the way"



Unless you have the money to burn and the relevant training a Katana makes a poor choice, for 1 it's a long blade to be wielding in confined space, a machete, billhook or khukuri would make a better alternative if you desired to go the bladed tool option. As you say you're a smaller skinny white dude, you can pretty much go to town if you remember, "you feared for your safety and that of your family you acted instinctively".

[Skean Dhude]

Of course the stats don't take into consideration the bodies that are then taken and dumped somewhere. Perhaps in a new building site never to be found. I suspect that if caught that wouldn't be seen in a good light.

I suspect we could use golf clubs, baseball bats, etc. while in the house as long as we don't pursue them when they run. It will be fine. So bruises and holes in the front = OK. Bruises and holes in the back = Not OK.

[Mortblanc]

Perhaps you should consider some deterrent activities. Special treatments for the porch steps perhaps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiFLTtjeuDc

[Hex]

havent read all the replies so sorry if anything i say has already been covered but personally id stay well away from a sword for home defence imagine trying to swing a samurai sword round on your stairs (not going to work very well) if you are interested in blades id look at machettes (pretty much designed more as a weapon of force than finesse) or look at hammers or axe's.

[Tartar Horde]

For the common man the Machete is king, and has a double use of being a garden tool. Burglars in the UK if they are armed at all tend to carry large kitchen/combat style blades that can be hidden, a machete will give you greater reach and speed than an Axe (one handed). For what it's worth the Katana is the most overated, and misunderstood sword there is.

[Devonian]

The following quote is from Smudges BBC link:

The most recent case was that of Andy and Tracey Ferrie. They were in bed when two burglars entered their home. Mr Ferrie fired his (legally-held) shotgun at the men. The couple were arrested but then released without charge.

The judge at the intruders' trial said: "If you burgle a house in the country where the householder owns a legally held shotgun, that is the chance you take. You cannot come to court and ask for a lighter sentence because of it."


So the theory is if you can shoot someone with a legally held shotgun, you can surely also strike them with a legally held machete or other blade if you fear for your own safety inside your own home.....?