5 February 2013
Shailesh Vara MP’s efforts to toughen the law on self defence in the home took a step further today.
Mr Vara introduced a Private Member’s Bill in 2006 to raise the test for the amount of force a householder can use in their home when acting in self defence. At present, a householder can only use “reasonable” force, but Mr Vara has argued that the test should be at a higher level, so that the force used is not “grossly disproportionate” in the circumstances.
The Crime and Courts Bill seeks to put into law what Mr Vara has long argued for and during the Bill’s Committee stage today, where the Bill is considered line by line, the proposal was approved despite reservations being expressed by Labour MPs.
Mr Vara spoke in favour of the measure and spoke of the need for clarity in the law to avoid householders having to go through the stress and anguish of going to trial before being finally acquitted. He also quoted the present Metropolitan Chief Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe as well as previous Commissioners, Lord Blair and Lord Stevens who take a similar view.
Moreover, Mr Vara cited overwhelming public support for raising the test.
After the Committee debate, Mr Vara said:
“This legislation is long overdue. Since my Private Member’s Bill in 2006, I have argued for the law to be amended and I am very pleased that from today we are one step closer to that happening. People acting in self defence in their homes should know that the law is on their side and not the intruders. They should be allowed to use whatever force is necessary to defend themselves and their loved ones and not be restricted by using only “reasonable” force. This is common sense and it is high time that the law reflected this. An Englishman’s home is still his castle.”
Mr Vara introduced a Private Member’s Bill in 2006 to raise the test for the amount of force a householder can use in their home when acting in self defence. At present, a householder can only use “reasonable” force, but Mr Vara has argued that the test should be at a higher level, so that the force used is not “grossly disproportionate” in the circumstances.
The Crime and Courts Bill seeks to put into law what Mr Vara has long argued for and during the Bill’s Committee stage today, where the Bill is considered line by line, the proposal was approved despite reservations being expressed by Labour MPs.
Mr Vara spoke in favour of the measure and spoke of the need for clarity in the law to avoid householders having to go through the stress and anguish of going to trial before being finally acquitted. He also quoted the present Metropolitan Chief Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe as well as previous Commissioners, Lord Blair and Lord Stevens who take a similar view.
Moreover, Mr Vara cited overwhelming public support for raising the test.
After the Committee debate, Mr Vara said:
“This legislation is long overdue. Since my Private Member’s Bill in 2006, I have argued for the law to be amended and I am very pleased that from today we are one step closer to that happening. People acting in self defence in their homes should know that the law is on their side and not the intruders. They should be allowed to use whatever force is necessary to defend themselves and their loved ones and not be restricted by using only “reasonable” force. This is common sense and it is high time that the law reflected this. An Englishman’s home is still his castle.”
