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Urgent review of self-defence law 'Self-defence' law to be reviewed
(about 5 hours later)
The law protecting people who intervene in criminal situations is to be urgently reviewed, Justice Secretary Jack Straw will announce. There is to be an urgent review of the law protecting those who intervene in criminal situations in England and Wales, the government is to announce.
He will say self-defence law works "much better than most people think, but not as well as it could or should". Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who has been a "have-a-go hero" four times, said he wanted to clarify "that the law is on the side of the citizen".
Mr Straw wants to reassure victims or witnesses in England and Wales that they can use reasonable force to stop and detain offenders.
Both he and the home secretary are due to address the Labour Party conference.Both he and the home secretary are due to address the Labour Party conference.
Later, the Bournemouth gathering will draw to a close with the traditional send-off delivered by deputy leader Harriet Harman. He will say self-defence law works "much better than most people think, but not as well as it could or should".
Mr Straw wants to reassure victims or witnesses that they can use reasonable force to stop and detain offenders.
'Good citizens''Good citizens'
In his speech on the final day of the conference, Mr Straw will say: "I know from personal experience that you have all of a millisecond to make the judgment about whether to intervene. Labour's gathering in Bournemouth will draw to a close on Thursday with the party's traditional send-off, delivered by deputy leader Harriet Harman.
How each of us react if we encounter a burglar or street robber has to be a matter of individual discretion Jack StrawJustice Secretary Before then, Mr Straw will say he knows "from personal experience that you have all of a millisecond to make the judgement about whether to intervene" in a crime.
"In such a situation, the law on self-defence works much better than most people think, but not as well as it could or should. You haven't got time in that situation to wonder where does the balance lie - what constitutes reasonable force Justice Secretary Jack Straw on being a "have-a-go hero"
"The justice system must not only work on the side of people who do the right thing as good citizens but also be seen to work on their side.""The justice system must not only work on the side of people who do the right thing as good citizens but also be seen to work on their side."
Mr Straw has intervened four times to stop criminals, including three times when he managed to detain the offender. Of the four times when Mr Straw has intervened to stop criminals, he managed to detain the offender on three occasions.
In 1980 he overheard a burglar breaking into a members club in his Blackburn constituency, chased them down the street and detained them until police arrived.In 1980 he overheard a burglar breaking into a members club in his Blackburn constituency, chased them down the street and detained them until police arrived.
In the mid 1980s at Oval Tube station in south London he came across an 11-year-old boy who had just been robbed by a man and detained the offender.In the mid 1980s at Oval Tube station in south London he came across an 11-year-old boy who had just been robbed by a man and detained the offender.
At the same tube station in the early 1990s he chased a man who had attacked a woman, but did not catch him. He chased a man who had attacked a woman at the same underground station in the early 1990s, but did not catch him.
Then in 1996 he chased a man who had robbed a member of the public and detained the suspect until police arrived.Then in 1996 he chased a man who had robbed a member of the public and detained the suspect until police arrived.
'No recklessness' Public 'anxiety'
Mr Straw wants people to be aware the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows them to use reasonable force to apprehend suspects, but was not advocating recklessness, his spokesman said. "I was presented, just by chance, with being a witness to criminal behaviour and thought I should intervene," Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The justice secretary will state: "Enforcing the law, securing justice, is not just a matter for 'them' the courts, the prisons, the probation service, police - but for all of us. The government "appears to be a bit confused", Mr Clegg argued"You haven't got time in that situation to wonder where does the balance lie - what constitutes reasonable force."
"How each of us react if we encounter a burglar or street robber has to be a matter of individual discretion - there is a critical line between responsibility and recklessness." He went on: "No-one knows whether you're going to intervene until it happens.
"Those that do intervene in this situation face the anxiety that they'll be the subject of a police investigation.
"Too many unnecessary police investigations take place. I want to make the law clearer."
Mr Straw wants people to be aware that the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows them to use reasonable force to apprehend suspects, but was not advocating recklessness, his spokesman said.
Government 'confused'
However, the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman, Nick Clegg, said the law did not need to be changed as it was "already very, very clear" that "proportionate, reasonable force" could be used.
"My concern, frankly, is the government appears to be a bit confused," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"On the one hand, Straw seems to be saying the law is working better than people think.
"On the other hand he seems to be stoking up public fear, if you like, by saying 'I'm going to review it', but not really saying in what way it's going to be reviewed."
The Association of Chief Police Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service, judges and other government ministers are expected to be consulted during the review.The Association of Chief Police Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service, judges and other government ministers are expected to be consulted during the review.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's speech will cover, among other issues, Labour's commitment to give local people more information about the performance of local police, and tougher checks on people travelling to the UK. Meanwhile Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's speech will cover, among other issues, Labour's commitment to give local people more information about the performance of local police, and tougher checks on people travelling to the UK.