[AnAmericanMother]

That is the letter of the law, but the Crown has decided otherwise in actual prosecutions. The Crown Prosecution Service issued the statement you quote because the charging of individuals who defend themselves physically against violent attack has become almost routine.

Whether this general statement serves to rein in the local police and prosecutors who prefer to go for the easy conviction rather than pursuing the violent criminals . . . remains to be seen.

Moreover, because of the virtual abolition of firearms in Britain, those who are female, elderly, or handicapped have no practical means of self defense whatsoever . . . . while of course the thugs have automatic weapons and a free rein because they know their victims are largely unarmed.