Posted on 07/12/2008 8:38:19 PM PDT by Stoat
Jack Straw ... law will back heroes
NEW legislation will protect “have-a-go heroes” who intervene in crimes or use force to defend themselves, Justice Secretary Jack Straw vowed last night.
From Monday a person’s actions will be judged on the situation “as they saw it at the time” — even if in hindsight the force could be classed as unreasonable, according to insiders.
Mr Straw told The Sun: “We’re not going to have a justice system which makes the victim the criminal.”
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 will make clear how much force can be used in self-defence or crime prevention.
The law promises that allowances will be made for “heat of the moment” misjudgments.
Mr Straw said: “Doing our bit to tackle crime is not just the responsibility of the police, it is the responsibility of all of us.”
But he warned we should not take the law into our own hands, saying: “People have to make their own judgment about the danger they face. They should not put themselves in unnecessary danger.”
Mr Straw — who has famously tackled thugs himself on four occasions — said: “I know from personal experience that one has all of a millisecond to make the judgment about whether to intervene.
“I want to be sure people are not put off from taking sensible action in self-defence or to apprehend a criminal by fear of being prosecuted themselves.
“The law should be seen as supporting them right from the start.”
Mr Straw promised that the law would “really be behind” people who used force to tackle crime — as long as it is “not excessive”.
He said: “The law makes allowances for people who are frightened or responding to what is a threatening situation.”
But Mr Straw warned that the law would step in if have-a-go heroes “took things too far”.
If true, this new legislation sounds as though it may give people a much better chance of defending themselves against criminals...let's all hope and pray that it all comes to pass as advertised.
More recent good news from the UK:
Cameron hails by-election victory (MORE great news for Conservatives in the UK)
(BNP thrashes Labour in recent important election)
Ken's partner axed as Boris Johnson purges City Hall 'wimmin'(London Mayor Update)
(London's new Mayor purges Leftists and Socialists)
Good news indeed!
Well summarized!
Hail Britannia!
'76 Reasonable force for purposes of self-defence etc.'
LMAO :-)
Let’s hope that it goes forward in the manner that Mr. Straw says, and doesn’t get watered down in the legislative process....that happens all to often everywhere, including here in the USA.
I think the Brits are fed up with it all, and will fight for their right to live without fear of criminal violence.
I seem to recall that they have even been agitating to get their guns back...
Decent people can only take so much abuse before they demand justice, and hopefully this new Act will indeed have some teeth in it.
I seem to recall that they have even been agitating to get their guns back...
I hadn't heard that....if you happen to run across a link I would enjoy reading about that. What I've been mainly hearing about is the escalation of stabbings and of the drive to ban knives.
WOW
GREAT thread and video, I'm very sorry that I had missed it. I've bookmarked it as a favorite and watched the whole thing with rapt attention....powerful, meaningful and essential.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to find and post it....I sincerely appreciate it :-)
Finally some light at the end of the tunnel for Britain.
Since guns are outlawed and knives are on the way out, maybe Brits can start carrying 30 pound spoons and four-foot long spatulas.
The eminent scholar, Joyce Lee Malcom, had detailed how the British lost their right to self defense. It occurred over decades, as an adjunct to the ruling class’ desire to disarm the public.
To simplify and condense, they could not easily take away the right to have a gun without taking away the right to self defense. This is because if you have the right to defend yourself, it is implied that you have the right to the tools necessary to do so.
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