Can You REALLY Defend Yourself in the UK?

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[TeckleEh]

I am from the UK (Scotland) and WAS charged with assault as a teenager when defending myself. I was being attacked by two guys who claimed to have a knife at the time. I threw one punch which knocked one of them to the floor while they attacked me, and then I ran like no tomorrow. Police caught up to me about 3 months later, and I was charged with assault even though there were witnesses who said I was defending myself. Police just wanted to charge me and move on, when I mentioned the threat of a knife I was told if I didn't have proof of the claim then they wouldn't be adding it to my statement.

The court ended up dropping the charge against me because it was a minor offence and I was never in trouble previously, while the two guys that attacked me had previous for both carrying knives and assaulting other people.

Before this happened my career plan was to join the police and work toward being a detective. Unfortunately, since that day, I have never trusted the police or justice system in our country. I have had similar experiences since then with being assaulted on nights out in the street and robbed at knifepoint in broad daylight with the police refusing to even look at CCTV of both incidents.

[martync]

You absolutely can defend yourself in the UK. Just be ready to defend yourself again when the state comes for you.

[kderules]

Shocking news that criminals don't care what the law says. The law-abiding will always be at a disadvantage.

[markb]

One piece of advice I got from my solicitor was to use any means necessary to defend yourself but as soon as police arrive, produce a business card for your solicitor and refuse any and ALL questions without a solicitor. Not a duty solicitor who works next door to the police station & knows all the cops on first name basis, but an actual defence solicitor who knows the nuances inside out. The police always "just want to understand what happened" and then use it against you. Say nothing at all without a lawyer in the room.

[nataliacroxton]

When will the law acknowledge the fact that intruders had NO RIGHT to break into the house they broke into ! 😱

[krissteele]

Rough translation:

It is unlawful for a normal citizen to defend themselves using a weapon, unless, by sheer luck, they stumble across a weapon whilst being attacked, and are somehow able to successfully grab the weapon and then successfully use it against the attacker.

Of course, it is far more likely the attacker uses the weapon on you and beats you half to death.

Though, don't worry too much. The police may be taking a break from policing naughty words online, and be in a position to recover your body.

Welcome to the UK everyone!

[brian]

I am now in my seventies, too slow to run, too old too fight fair. If someone breaks into my home at night, and if I hear them I shall use the maximum force to prevent them causing injury to myself and my wife, I shall assume that they intend to cause harm to us and use lethal force if I have to. At my age life in prison is not much of a deterrent when there is a chance that the perpetrator would have possibly fatally injured me anyway.

[studio]

The moment you enter somebody's home intending to burgle it, you should be considered to have signed a waiver indemnifying the occupant against any claim you or the state may have for harm to yourself.

[TiredAshes]

So, I'm "allowed" to defend myself under UK law - how gracious of the state - but I am not allowed to prepare a weapon in order to do that. I'm glad that the government deems it acceptable, at least, to meet home intruders with a lamp whilst they are armed with machetes and baseball bats...

[Truthtalker]

Lawyers can talk for hours about the intricacies of the law, but I know one thing for sure. If anyone attacks me or my family, in the street, or in my home, then all the force that I can muster will be used against them. I can always get someone like you to speak for me when the government or their bully boys come for me, as they no doubt will. Such is the sad state of the world we have to live I these days. However, I will have the satisfaction of knowing that my family are safe.

[noelward]

I admire BBB's faith in the legal system ... it is long gone for many others.

[greenpedal]

I've been attacked and had to defend myself. It is impossible to determine what is reasonable during the event when full of adrenaline and in fear of your life.

[kai]

Always use MAXIMUM force in self defence, better to be prosecuted by the state then killed.

[dislikebutton]

Rule 1. your opponent can have a weapon and you cannot (unless you're in a bear Grylls documentary and one just happens to appear next to you)

Rule 2: you have to keep in mind the wellbeing of the possible murderous psychopath because someone who wasn't present at time can claim you went overboard and punish you

rule 3: When you're forced to defend yourself you better start praying the judge isn't in a bad mood or have personal beliefs that put you at a disadvantage

Nope, our justice system isn't stacked in the criminals favour at all

[livelife]

This is such an important video. As a DV (domestic vi*lence) survivor the police told me I wasn’t aloud to defend myself while being attacked. In fact I got arrested the one time I did. I’ve met many women who’ve been arrested & served prison sentences for defending themselves against their attackers. It’s a real issue for women that nobody really talks about.

[dellawrence]

I have only one thing to say on this subject, "Having two feet in the dock is better than being six feet in a grave". Do what you need to do and worry about the law later.

[shanemoore]

Those who are asking what is reasonable force. 1. Did you offer your attacker a cup of tea. 2. Did you allow your attacker to take regular breaks and 3. Did you ensure their mental well being was taken care off

[DavidGetling]

If someone gets hurt, or killed, in the process of committing a serious criminal offence then the state shouldn't intervene!

[Independent-Revolutionary]

UK citizen here.

If someone breaks into my house to steal my hard earned belongings, then they are going to get it.

We should have the final decision protecting our house/family and belongings.

Reasonable force is such a wide ranging get out.

The Law should make it clear if you break into someones house/property then there is no protection on you the thief.

[josephrobinson]

The case of a crazy dude breaking into a teenager's room when he was home alone and beating the shit out of him until the teenager grabbed a knife from the bedside table and stabbed the guy in the stomach while he was on top of him led to the teenager being charged for murder and convicted because the attacker was unarmed. That example alone tells you you cannot defend yourself in the UK. If a literal child being beaten on by a full grown larger man who broke into his house cannot use a weapon to defend himself