Tories push for greater force to defend homes
(Filed: 28/10/2005)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...ml&sSheet=/portal/2005/10/28/ixportaltop.html
The Conservatives have launched a bid to allow people to take tougher measures to defend their property against burglars.
Tony Martin was jailed in 2000 after shooting burglars
Anne McIntosh, a Tory MP, will table a Householder Protection Bill, backed by David Davis, the shadow home secretary and Conservative leadership hopeful.
Critics of the current law argue that the wording is inadequate and leaves those who tackle burglars open to the threat of prosecution.
But Tony Blair's official spokesman said the PM had not changed his position and thought that the current law allowing "reasonable force" was adequate. His stance is likely to scupper the new proposals.
Ms McIntosh said she had decided to resurrect similar legislation unsuccessfully put forward last year after a number of burglaries in her Vale of York constituency.
"The problem is that, while defending your life is clear under law, defending your property is not," she said.
However, Fiona MacTaggart, Home Office minister, signalled that the Government would oppose the measure. She said that the new legislation could even put homeowners at greater risk.
"What is more likely to happen is that burglars are more likely to come armed themselves and therefore householders are more likely to be at much greater risk," she said.
But Mr Davis defended the Bill, saying it would make the law clearer in the mind of homeowners.
"The householder knows full well that chasing somebody down the street in order to murder them is grossly disproportionate," he said.
"Defending your family using all necessary force is not grossly disproportionate. It is as clear as that."
Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said they believe the law as it stands is sufficient.
"Unless they commit a blatant murder they are not likely to be charged," he said.
In 2000, Tony Martin was sentenced to life for shooting two men who had burgled his farmhouse, killing one. He was released in 2003 after his conviction was commuted to manslaughter.
(Filed: 28/10/2005)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...ml&sSheet=/portal/2005/10/28/ixportaltop.html
The Conservatives have launched a bid to allow people to take tougher measures to defend their property against burglars.
Tony Martin was jailed in 2000 after shooting burglars
Anne McIntosh, a Tory MP, will table a Householder Protection Bill, backed by David Davis, the shadow home secretary and Conservative leadership hopeful.
Critics of the current law argue that the wording is inadequate and leaves those who tackle burglars open to the threat of prosecution.
But Tony Blair's official spokesman said the PM had not changed his position and thought that the current law allowing "reasonable force" was adequate. His stance is likely to scupper the new proposals.
Ms McIntosh said she had decided to resurrect similar legislation unsuccessfully put forward last year after a number of burglaries in her Vale of York constituency.
"The problem is that, while defending your life is clear under law, defending your property is not," she said.
However, Fiona MacTaggart, Home Office minister, signalled that the Government would oppose the measure. She said that the new legislation could even put homeowners at greater risk.
"What is more likely to happen is that burglars are more likely to come armed themselves and therefore householders are more likely to be at much greater risk," she said.
But Mr Davis defended the Bill, saying it would make the law clearer in the mind of homeowners.
"The householder knows full well that chasing somebody down the street in order to murder them is grossly disproportionate," he said.
"Defending your family using all necessary force is not grossly disproportionate. It is as clear as that."
Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said they believe the law as it stands is sufficient.
"Unless they commit a blatant murder they are not likely to be charged," he said.
In 2000, Tony Martin was sentenced to life for shooting two men who had burgled his farmhouse, killing one. He was released in 2003 after his conviction was commuted to manslaughter.
