It`s happened again. A shopkeeper in Truro, Cornwall, was being robbed by three crooks who stole some goods and ran off.
He chased after them and caught the biggest of them who started to fight him.
He fought back, and won, and retrieved his goods but was arrested by the police and charged with assault.
He pleaded self defence etc., but was given the option, gaol or an £80 fine, he had to choose the fine so he could go on trading. The thief got a caution.
I ask you, is this fair? What is the world coming to when crooks can rob you and get away with it while you are charged with assault when you defend yourself and your property?
2007-06-30 02:57:55 · 34 answers · asked by Montgomery B 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
i agree with you Monty it makes me so bloody angry with the law of this country as it stands //we can only hope this new home secretary takes this on board and reverses it immediately along with a lot more PC rules that are making folk in this country almost nervous to voice an opinion on any subject which we could so do a decade ago without someone knocking your door, it rather smacks of Germany 1933 /45
2007-06-30 03:08:42 · answer #1 · answered by srracvuee 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The right of self-defence exists, in reason as in law.
The thieves struck the first blows. Even before then, they did the first wrong. These facts are not in dispute. It strains credulity that the police, the CPS and finally the court should have come out so strongly on the side of the criminals.
There is in theory a contract between the citizen and the forces of law. We forgo much of our right of self-defence: we may not bear arms, we may not assault and detain wrongdoers whereve we may find them, we may not inflict punishment. The residual right - to take necessary action to protect our property or our person where the police are not present or cannot help is now under threat.
If we cannot trust the Law, inevitably people will turn to their own strength and to ad hoc associations for self-protection. Is vigilantism really what this government wants?
2007-06-30 07:50:34 · answer #2 · answered by Michael B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If John Prescott had chased the thief down the street and punched him on the jaw as he is wont to do, he would have been regarded as a hero, but then he's a Labour Politician and different laws apply.If a little old lady holds on to a football from next door, it's straight to gaol without her feet touching the ground.
2007-06-30 22:47:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I saw this case, and I agree, this one is ridiculous.
If it happened as reported in today's Times, surely a self-defence plea would have been successful.
Do remember, however, that the shopkeeper actually pleaded guilty. He was advised by his lawyer that a prison sentence was a possibility if a not guilty plea was entered, whereas a guilty plea would most likely just incur a fine.
It's a pity, but understandable, that he took this advice and did not fight the case.
2007-06-30 05:47:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The government wonder why the crime rate is still on the increase
Who ever said
Crime doesn`t pay
Would be eating his hat now
It definitely pays It would be a different story if one of the government or royal family was robbed and chased them down the street i bet they wouldn't be charged with Assault
Its about time the law was changed most of us work really hard for what we got and we should be allowed to protect our Property and Belongings
2007-06-30 04:03:23 · answer #5 · answered by Black Orchid 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
think stuff like this happens all the time. We are so worried about why and what people were thinking that we miss the fact the dude just got robbed. If he would have beaten the thief to death it would be fine with me I don't care what the thief was thinking HE robbed the shopkeeper. Or you could give all your stuff to everybody that wants it and you have Communism.
2007-06-30 04:48:47 · answer #6 · answered by quickgun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He would have only been fined if he used more force than was needed in apprehending the criminal. It would be easy to blame the police for charging the shopkeeper, however government legislation has put officers in the impossible position of having to deal with this if an allegation is made against the shopkeeper. If they dont they stand the chance of loosing their job. In this case the keeper is guilty of excessive force.
I agree that anyone who robs someone should automatically fore-go their human rights, because they seem to have no problem breaching other peoples rights.
The true problem lies with our Labour governments policies, the very policies that are now abused by the criminals to allow them to get lighter sentences, or bring charges against those they have offended against. The only way to change this is to use the power of your vote. Vote for another government instead of the one we have now. Maybe things will change, or maybe its too late. Who knows? only time will tell!
TRIXIE BORDELLO.......the police dont recomend these rules! Educate yourself before expressing incorrect theories on a public forum! It was never the police's fault. the problem lies with the elected government. Want things to change then vote for someone else!
2007-06-30 04:31:03 · answer #7 · answered by carswoody 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree the way the law looks at it is he chased after them so claiming self defence does not really apply.
If I was a juror I would refuse to find him guilty even if he chased em down and cracked them over the back of the head with a baseball bat but thats another issue.
If you take part in criminal activity then thats the world you live in don't ***** if you get whats coming to you.
2007-06-30 03:05:49 · answer #8 · answered by Wayne Kerr 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree. As the saying goes "The law is an ***." Also it's up to the Judge and police to use common sense when prosecuting a case. Unfortunately it's not exactly a prerequisite for the job nowadays. Maybe there should be some sort of common sense test before you are allowed to do the job.
2007-06-30 03:06:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Here we go again. This only happens in England.
It would not and does not happen anywhere else in the world.
It is NOT fair.
This is why I call the police in England 'filth'.
They are a bunch of target-driven evil bullies.
Why are they like this?
Because you, the English people, allow them to be like this.
You will notice that the member of the public in Glasgow who attacked the innocent Asian gent in the burning Jeep at the airport was not arrested by the Scottish police and charged with racially aggravated assault.
Why? Because Scotland has not yet gone mad.
The English police are ignorant violent filth who spend most of their time attacking the innocent, 'loonies' and children.
2007-06-30 05:34:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋