| ries on properties when the occupiers are in are very | | | | the police have visited as anything and everything |
| rare, however they do happen from time to time, | | | | could hold clues as to who committed the crime. |
| usually at night when the household is expected to be | | | | In the unlikely event that you do come across an |
| asleep. Despite this being a very rare occurance, you | | | | intruder on your property then as a general rule you |
| should think about what you would do to protect | | | | should not confront them, despite how angry or upset |
| yourself and your family should you ever find yourself | | | | you are - there could be more than one intruder and |
| in this situation. | | | | they may be carrying a weapon. |
| Think ahead - Although it's extremely rare to happen, | | | | Under the law you are entitled to use reasonable force |
| think about what you would do if you thought you had | | | | to protect yourself, another person or your property. |
| an intruder in the house. If you think now and come up | | | | Reasonable force is determined by the force you use |
| with some sort of a plan it could save you time later | | | | for protection purposes only in comparison to the |
| should you find yourself in the situation when you are | | | | threat that you are facing. What exactly reasonable |
| more likely to panic. When thinking about what you | | | | force is depends on the situation itself but generally it is |
| would do, consider all possibilities, especially if you live | | | | understood as the amount of force required that stops |
| alone. | | | | yourself, someone else or your property from being |
| If you suspect that there is someone in your house or | | | | attacked. Once an attacker is floored or incapicitated |
| on your property, you could make a noise in the hope | | | | then do not stop to continue attacking them. Stopping |
| that it will startle any intruder and scare them off. If you | | | | to continue an attack could put you in more danger |
| don't want to do this then you may want to keep quiet | | | | and force beyond reasonable force could lead to you |
| and hope that they don't realise you are there or enter | | | | facing an assault, or even worse, charge. |
| your room. Keep a phone in your bedroom so that you | | | | Generally the law will be on your side when it comes |
| can call for help. If there is someone in your house then | | | | to protecting yourself, others and your property. There |
| dial 999 immediately. | | | | have been cases where people have faced charges |
| Should you come home and find signs of a break-in | | | | when acting in "self-defence" but this is because they |
| you should consider whether or not you think it is safe | | | | have gone too far in protecting themselves and either |
| to enter the premises or not - the intruder could still be | | | | left traps or used excessive force, including the use of |
| inside. If you suspect that someone is in the house then | | | | weapons. |
| you should call the police on 999 from a safe place. | | | | However the law does not allow you to retaliate or |
| You could also ring the doorbell or knock at the door | | | | punish a suspected criminal, this is what the courts are |
| as this should scare off any intruder. If you are sure | | | | for. You must never take the law into your own hands |
| that there is no-one in the house then enter carefully | | | | for anything that anyone has done to yourself, your |
| but try not to touch anything. As there is no crime | | | | family or your home. Give any information you have to |
| taking place you should call the police on their | | | | the police and allow the legal system to deal with the |
| non-emergency number. Try not to touch anything until | | | | case. |