Clause 1 - Amendment of the Criminal Law Act 1967

Part of Criminal Law (Amendment) (Householder Protection) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:45 pm on 9 March 2005.

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Photo of Harry Cohen Harry Cohen Labour, Leyton and Wanstead 2:45, 9 March 2005

The law already provides the opportunity, which is not confined to householders or to those within the boundaries of the house—this was the point of my original remarks when I tried to set the scene—to use reasonable force in self-defence. As I said, that has been strengthened by the Government’s guidance. Clearly, therefore, doing nothing in those circumstances is not the issue. However, the question arises—and this opens the matter up seriously—of someone shooting from outside, albeit that it might be the householder. As we have been reminded by the amendments tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North, it might not be the householder but a security guard or someone similar. It is a problem.