They have decided to reform the laws to make it a little clearer that self-defense isn't always a bad thing. From the July 15, 2008 Guardian:
New laws coming into force today will give greater protection to "have-a-go heroes" who challenge burglars or other criminals.It says a lot about how far down the road Britain has gone that self-defense is seen as heroic, doesn't it?
It will mean that members of the public who tackle criminals are unlikely to be prosecuted if they can show they acted instinctively or because they feared for their safety.
Jack Straw, the justice secretary, who has himself intervened four times to stop criminals, said the government wanted to favour the victim rather than encourage vigilantism.
"This law will help to make sure that the criminal justice system is firmly weighted in favour of the victim," he said.
He added: "These changes in the law will make clear - victims of crime, and those who intervene to prevent crime, should be treated with respect by the justice system. We do not want to encourage vigilantism, but there can be no justice in a system which makes the victim the criminal."
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