Inregards to home invasions the following law applies :
Self-defence at common law: The Home Invasion (Occupants Protection) Bill 1995 raised
the question of whether the common law provides adequately at present for the defence of
self-defence where the use of deadly force by a home occupant is at issue. Amended
versions of the Bill in 1997 and 1998 have also raised important questions relating to the law
of self-defence. The main findings concerning self-defence at common law can be
summarised as follows:
* self-defence operates to excuse from liability a person who has been proven to have
committed an assault or murder.12 In other words, where the doctrine of self-defence
is found to apply, it results in the acquittal of the defendant;
at present the common law recognises the rights of victims of home invasions (to
take one example) to use ‘reasonable force’ in self-defence where the occupant
believed on reasonable grounds that it was necessary to do what he or she did;
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Basically, if you feel you are in immediate danger then you are able to use reasonable force (this can include lethal force) that is will be classified as self defence and you will be acquitted on the charges. (but lets say they find the person who has broken in is unarmed and you pull out a sword and slice him up then you will probably get in trouble as that is not reasonable force).
*disclaimer : any of the above should not be taken as a legal defence if you decide to put a golf club through a home invaders head (or do anything to anyone)