Self-Defense, UK Style

Fireplace pokers and kitchen knives.

'If an old lady finds she has got an 18-year-old burgling her house and she picks up a kitchen knife and sticks it in him, she has not committed a criminal offence and we will make that clear,’ Mr Clarke said.

There is no doubt that you or I or anybody else is entitled to use reasonable force to defend ourselves and to protect ourselves or our homes or both.

‘We will make it quite clear you can hit the burglar with the poker if he is in the house and you have a perfect defence if you do so.’

Realistically, is the average old lady even going to attempt to tangle with an 18-year-old? The disparity in force is too great. Still, it's a step forward from the days when Labour was in charge and honest citizens jailed for defending themselves and their homes.