Self defence - the best legal methods?

[Red Herring]

I know how I would treat someone who came to me to report an incident, unfortunately my view isn't necessarily very common amongst my more "modern" colleagues. If you're just pushed someone off, or even hit them the once, then I would suggest you have very little to fear. If on the other hand the only way you were able to stop them taking your watch was to beat them to death with a blunt instrument then you may not want to be found afterwards.

Personally when I'm at work I'm the type that goes looking for trouble and never walks away from a confrontation. In 25 years I've used my baton once and my spray a few times, but interestingly neither in the last 15 years. I've nicked literally scores of violent, obstructive and usually drunk individuals and even the odd hardened, determined criminal, and despite breaking the odd bone and inflicting the occasional gravel rash I've never been accused of using excessive force. On the negative side I've been hurt twice, once by his mate who I didn't see coming, and once by a girl because I dithered whilst deciding which bit to grab....

When off duty I don't go looking for trouble, so rarely find it. On the odd occasion I've come across something I've kept the force used in proportion to the problem and never had anything to fear, which brings me back to your wise words. I know what I need to say to justify what I have done.....but then maybe by knowing what I may have to say also influences just what I do.....

[fizzwheel]

The other thing about doing jury service made me realise is that I wouldnt want to go into court knowing what I had done might have been a bit iffy, I found it very intimidating and I was on the flippin jury. God knows what it would feel like to be in the dock knowing that perhaps in my heart I had hit somebody to hard and hurt them. I think I would feel bad enough if I had pushed somebody away and they had fallen awkwardly and banged their head, let alone if I had taken a baseball bat or something like that to somebody.

The thing I learnt about jury service is, if there isn't DNA or CCTV... you're in the clear.

Seems that the best place to live for this sort of thing is Manchester, where recently two people who have killed burglars have not been prosecuted, and it looks like a third is about to follow.

I have never been in that situation, so what do I know.

But FFS it's all insured, so is it really worth a human life?

Burglar maybe, but also somebody's son, somebody's dad, somebody's husband, somebody's brother.

[timwilky]

When I was attacked, I did things by the letter of the law, 3 times in court being messed about before we got before the magistrate, 9 months after the attack.

Despite broken nose requiring surgical correction, black eyes, lost front tooth, bruising to back, chest and groin. He gets a fine.

Next time, I think the pick axe handle as he struts home from the pub. He attacked me from behind whilst I was having a P in the toilets, why not attack him from behind. Quid pro quo.

My brother was thrown down a flight of stairs by 3 blokes, one who was held of his neck also fell with him, my brother landed on top and his attacker suffered a broken neck. My brother was charged with GBH despite the inspector at the police station saying it looks like the wrong person has been arrested. He pleaded not guilty at the magistrates and the case referred to crown court. Only when the 3 attackers were charged and convicted of assault on my brother did the crown not offer any evidence and withdrew the case with my brother in the crown court looking at a prison sentence. It was as if they were hoping he would cop for an early guilty plea to reduce sentance etc.

Morel, the system does not help/support the victim. vigilante justice may not achieve anything. But it feels damm good.

The law is not always fair, many years ago I got attacked in Bradford and ended up DEFENDING myself against three people,consequence ,I got charged with ABH.
OK some of the retaliation may have been a bit "Street wise" and not "Marquis of Queensbury" but when you have three people attacking you you defend yourself the best way you know how.
Point being when you have three people saying you attacked them it is very hard to prove your innocence,especially when they are battered and bruised and you have a skinned knuckle.
The other side of the coin being do you take a hiding where it is difficult to prove which person inflicted which injury to you and the police are reluctant to charge anybody with affray so they get a lesser charge with a paltry fine.
I am WRONG but if somebody intends assaulting me[Putting in fear by definition] if I can't walk away I will do whatever is necessary irrelevant of the consequences

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

.... I will do whatever is necessary.....

And therein lies the key.....

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Ed

But FFS it's all insured, so is it really worth a human life?

Pride and value in your property, your principles and your morals.
Yes it is worth a life. It's worth many of them.

And if 2 people break into your house with knives, while you're up and around watching TV. Are you willing to bet your life, literally, that they just want to nick stuff? You bet your families lives? You bet that they aren't going to kill you and then rape your missus and daughter? Are they insured?

No, I think I'd rather have the option to put a couple of rounds of 12 bore into them. But since we don't have that I suppose I'll have to settle for considering violent criminals being killed in the conduct of crime as acceptable and applaudable.

[NTECUK]

Unless your put in that situtation ,you don't know what was going throug the guys head or what actually happened.
Ok 6 stab wounds look like he got in a frenzy ,but we don't know .
Fear what could happened to his family is a big motivate.
Thats why having a noisy dog is a good deterant.

[johnnyrod]

To pick up Pete's question from the start and from a few pages back, he wants something that'll work. I'd love to say "get one of these" but as you've probably already figured out from the various tales above, there isn't one of those to buy. If you really are that worried then I'd agree with the others who say look at self defence classes. Nothing at all will guarantee you protection, you've just got to try to stack things in your favour, like (for example) not being in the wrong place at the wrong time (obviously, but it's all in the same vein), and knowing a lock or two if it comes to it.