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**Nautilus** · 06-15-2007, 11:42 PM

No, it is reasonable force for the public. Minimum force for the Police, the Prison Service and Custom and Excise

Unfortunately, "reasonable" is not defined in law. What can be reasonable for one person can be extreme for another i.e people on a jury, the police etc.

Someone breaks into your house, pulls a knife on you you'd just better hope that the jury takes the fact that you smashed a old wooden curtain pole that just happened to be lying around straight on to his head causing a skull fracture as being "reasonable" force.

Someone breaking into my house and threatening my daughter will see a whole new definition of "reasonable" force.

There are a whole raft of tales here about burglars breaking into a house and being savaged by a pet or hit by the house owner and either suing the house owner or the the police arresting them. The view of most ordinary people here is that a burglar leaves their rights outside the house when they burgle it. The police and courts don't take that view. And don't ever defend yourself against a mugger, and never, ever help someone who is being mugged. The police will arrest you faster than you can say "aren't you going after the mugger?". You are easier to arrest and prosecute. The mugger will be difficult. Or am I just being cynical as well?

And all because the definition of "reasonable" is not strictly defined in law.

06-15-2007, 11:42 PM	#26
Nautilus Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 446 Senior Member	No, it is reasonable force for the public. Minimum force for the Police, the Prison Service and Custom and Excise Unfortunately, "reasonable" is not defined in law. What can be reasonable for one person can be extreme for another i.e people on a jury, the police etc. Someone breaks into your house, pulls a knife on you you'd just better hope that the jury takes the fact that you smashed a old wooden curtain pole that just happened to be lying around straight on to his head causing a skull fracture as being "reasonable" force. Someone breaking into my house and threatening my daughter will see a whole new definition of "reasonable" force. There are a whole raft of tales here about burglars breaking into a house and being savaged by a pet or hit by the house owner and either suing the house owner or the the police arresting them. The view of most ordinary people here is that a burglar leaves their rights outside the house when they burgle it. The police and courts don't take that view. And don't ever defend yourself against a mugger, and never, ever help someone who is being mugged. The police will arrest you faster than you can say "aren't you going after the mugger?". You are easier to arrest and prosecute. The mugger will be difficult. Or am I just being cynical as well? And all because the definition of "reasonable" is not strictly defined in law.
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