Householders and the Use of Force against Intruders
A new leaflet has been issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) confirming the rights of householders to defend themselves against intruders.
In response to public concern about the right of householders to defend themselves against intruders or burglars in the home, the Home Office considered whether there needed to be a change in the law on self defence. The Home Secretary consulted the CPS and ACPO and concluded that the law was sound and in favour of the householder. He concluded, however, that the law needed to be better explained. The leaflet attached to this news item explains the law of self defence and describes how the police and the CPS would deal with situations where a householder has injured or killed an intruder.