New laws to protect have-a-go heroes

Updated 21.27 Thu Sep 27 2007

Keywords: self-defence, Labour, Jack Straw

Homeowners are set to get more protection from prosecution if they defend themselves from burglars.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw is to urgently review the law on "have-a-go heroes" to give honest members of the public more confidence to step in. He will tell the Labour Party conference that the current law is not working as well as it should.

"The law on self-defence works much better than most people think, but not as well as it could or should" - Jack Straw

He will ask officials to devise ways of reassuring people who are victims of crime or who witnessed an offence that they can use reasonable force to stop and detain criminals.

Mr Straw's official spokesman said the move had been inspired by the politician's own experiences, having stepped in to apprehend offenders on four occasions in the last 25 years.

Mr Straw will tell delegates in Bournemouth: "I know from personal experience that you have all of a millisecond to make the judgment about whether to intervene.

"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."

He added: "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."

His spokesman said that any reforms would seek to reassure people that the law allows them to use reasonable force to apprehend suspects, as set out in the 1967 Criminal Law Act.

But the Minister will not be encouraging anyone to act recklessly. The spokesman added: "We want to make clear that we will support people for doing the right thing."

Meanwhile, prosecutors are being criticised for keeping victims of crime in the dark over the progress of their cases.

Almost one in three people were not sent a letter keeping them up to date by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), inspectors said. Among those left out of the loop were vulnerable victims, including people who had been raped and subjected to domestic violence.

Improving the care of victims of crime is a Government priority and the CPS must inform them of relevant decisions within five days.

A report by the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate found "significant weaknesses" in the organisation's communications.

But inspectors also found examples where officials made extra effort to deliver often-disappointing news to victims. As a result of the audit, the CPS has rewritten guidance and revised its training for employees.