Blunkett backs call for 'right to fight back' against burglars
By Patrick Hennessy
(Filed: 31/10/2004)
David Blunkett has given his backing to The Sunday Telegraph's campaign to change the law to give homeowners more rights to protect themselves against burglars.
The Home Secretary said yesterday that he was "deeply sympathetic" to those who thought the law should do everything possible to help householders against intruders - and signalled that government action was likely.
David Blunkett: said last week that law should be 'rebalanced'
Ministers are said to have an "open mind" about changing the current law, which allows homeowners to use "reasonable force" to protect themselves. What this term means is unclear, and many people who have defended themselves against intruders have faced criminal charges.
Mr Blunkett's comments follow backing for this newspaper's campaign from David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, who said last week that the law should be "rebalanced" in favour of householders and against burglars.
The Home Secretary's intervention is also further clear evidence that the Government will do all it can to hammer home the message in the run-up to the general election that it is "tough on crime".
Any government action specifically aimed at tightening the law is likely to have to wait until after the election - expected next year - although Labour is expected to promise a review in its manifesto.
The Sunday Telegraph launched the campaign last weekend following the fatal stabbing of Robert Symons, a London teacher, during a burglary at his home.
Mr Blunkett said last night: "I am deeply sympathetic to those who feel the law should do everything possible to protect householders. That's why I changed the law last year to prevent homeowners being sued by intruders who injure themselves while breaking in. What's lacking is a clear alternative to the definition of 'reasonable force', which has thankfully been interpreted by the Crown Prosecution Service and the judiciary in favour of householders just in the last few weeks."
"If David Davis and the Tory Party have a better alternative, they have not provided it yet." He added: "What anyone advocating change must prevent is murder, under the guise of reasonable force, which no civilised society would want, especially given that our law already allows 'self-defence' as a complete defence against a murder charge."
One of Mr Blunkett's senior officials said: "If there is a better way of defining the law we are certainly not going to have a closed mind to it."
Mr Davis said last night: "What is required is a review of how the current law operates. David Blunkett hasn't done that yet."
