Reasonable force is a term associated with defending one’s person or property from a violent attack, theft, or other type of unlawful aggression.
It may be used as a defense in a criminal trial and everyone has the lawful right to use reasonable force to protect themselves, others and their property.
The law says that “A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or of offenders unlawfully at large”. Reasonable force is a term associated with defending one’s person or property from a violent attack, theft, or other type of unlawful aggression. It may be used as a defence in a criminal trial if you had to defend yourself or others from a violent attack or to protect your home. Every person has a defence if they use force that causes another person bodily harm and even if it is likely to cause death as long as the person who used the force reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent themselves or others being harmed or killed. You can also use reasonable force to protect yourself or others if a crime is taking place inside your home. This means you can protect yourself ‘in the heat of the moment’ including using an object as a weapon and also stop an intruder running off for example by restraining them whilst waiting for the police to arrive. You also do not have to wait to be attacked before defending yourself in your home. To find out more go to www.nfps.info/urf