The Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, has announced that householders in England and Wales will have greater protection from burglars in future.
The new measures will mean that someone who is confronted by a burglar and has reason to fear for their safety, or the safety of their family, and in the heat of the moment uses force that is reasonable in the circumstances but in the cold light of day seems disproportionate will not be guilty of an offence. Force which is 'grossly' disproportionate will still not be permitted.
“Being confronted by an intruder in your own home is terrifying, and the public should be in no doubt that the law is on their side. That is why I am strengthening the current law,” said Mr Grayling. “Householders who act instinctively and honestly in self-defence are victims of crime and should be treated that way.”
The current law states that householders can use force that is reasonable in the circumstances as they believed them to be to defend themselves or their property, but states that the use of disproportionate force will never be reasonable in the circumstances.