Carrying an offensive weapon in your home...

[bananapieface]

news said:

A UK TV star warned over waving a knife at teenagers says she acted in self defence.

Myleene Klass, a TV presenter and model, was warned by police after she waved a knife at teenagers who were intruding in her garden in Hertfordshire after midnight local time on Friday, Sky News reported.

She was in her kitchen upstairs with her daughter when she spotted people peering into her window, before grabbing the knife and banging on the windows, scaring the trespassers away.

Hertfordshire Police officers warned Klass she should not have used a knife to scare off the teens because carrying an "offensive weapon" - even in her own home - was illegal.

Klass told Sky News in a statement: "My family are totally fine and I thank the police for being so re-assuring and comforting.

FFS.

Placed this in the lounge as it will probably turn into a Myleene pic fest.

[Cock Womble]

She can wield my offensive weapon anytime.

[Olf]

FFS what?

Threatening kids with a knife whether in the streets or through a window is not on.

[bananapieface]

I doubt someone like her would go on a murder spree, but If my wife was at home on her own and had intruders in the grounds I'd expect she'd be arming herself.

[bigdods]

Olf said:

FFS what?

Threatening kids with a knife whether in the streets or through a window is not on.

They were in her garden, probably fairly intimidating to a woman home alone so IMHO she did what was necessary to scare them off.

And I cant imagine she lives in a small semi with a tiny garden, so they probably had to make a fair effort to cross the garden to the point where she could see them which might then lead her to believe they were burglars .

[thinfourth2]

news said:

Hertfordshire Police officers warned Klass she should not have used a knife to scare off the teens because carrying an "offensive weapon" - even in her own home - was illegal.

Well i was going to go out and cut some logs but i think i won't now as Plod will no doubt come and take me to jail for using a chainsaw

[M-J-B]

Olf said:

FFS what?

Threatening kids with a knife whether in the streets or through a window is not on.

Sorry, I disagree. You should be able to show and use force as necessary to remove unwanted strangers from your property. If that means showing a knife then so be it.

If you don't want to be stabbed or shot, don't try and break into my property and you won't get hurt.

Simple.

[jt racing]

For gods sake. She was in her own house, by herself with her kids. I know if my missus had that happen she would do the same. Fair play to her i say.

[RemaL]

I find this amazing to read. Who would not do the same if someone was in your garden.

[bananapieface]

On 20 October, 2006, Klass revealed during Five's documentary From Gawker To Stalker, she had previously been sent a wedding dress by an over-enthusiastic fan. It was also revealed that the stalker had set up a shrine to Klass within their house.

[Olf]

M-J-B said:

Olf said:

FFS what?

Threatening kids with a knife whether in the streets or through a window is not on.

Sorry, I disagree. You should be able to show and use force as necessary to remove unwanted strangers from your property. If that means showing a knife then so be it.

If you don't want to be stabbed or shot, don't try and break into my property and you won't get hurt.

Simple.

I don't disagree but the point was the 'FFS'... Firstly, if you do take matters into your own hands rather than pushing the panic button which seeing as we're in the world of guessing, I'm sure she has, then don't be surprised when the police want a word afterwards. I cannot even begin to entertain the fact that MK would stand at the window threatening with a knife if she didn't know what she was dealing with.

[havoc]

Olf said:

FFS what?

Threatening kids with a knife whether in the streets or through a window is not on.

"Teens" are hardly kids Olf - there's a few 15 & 16y.o. 'kids' around here who could wipe the floor with me and not even break a sweat...

...and if they suddenly appeared on MY property I'd be finding either the biggest knife possible or my 6lb lump-hammer!



There is a WORLD of difference between pre-/early-pubescent 13- and 14y.o.'s and full-grown, testosterone-laden 16-19y.o.'s...yet all are 'teenagers' in our rather ill-used language.

[M-J-B]

Olf said:

M-J-B said:

Olf said:

FFS what?

Threatening kids with a knife whether in the streets or through a window is not on.

Sorry, I disagree. You should be able to show and use force as necessary to remove unwanted strangers from your property. If that means showing a knife then so be it.

If you don't want to be stabbed or shot, don't try and break into my property and you won't get hurt.

Simple.

I don't disagree but the point was the 'FFS'... Firstly, if you do take matters into your own hands rather than pushing the panic button which seeing as we're in the world of guessing, I'm sure she has, then don't be surprised when the police want a word afterwards. I cannot even begin to entertain the fact that MK would stand at the window threatening with a knife if she didn't know what she was dealing with.

Instinct would be to weald and then hit the button.

Recently when I had a fire I tried to stop the source and then call the brigade. Not necessarily the correct order, but it's what most of us would do.

I am a firm believer that the country is too soft on crime and we should be able to protect our family and property from unwanted intruders.

I live in a rural location and in 8 years have only had two unwanted visits (people driving up my drive by mistake rather than this situation), they didn't get shot or stabbed, we had a chat and on they went on their way. If I saw anybody poking around at night I would not think twice about getting either my rather large club out which I have under the bed or even point my air rifle at the offenders, possibly firing one over their heads just to scare them. Obviously I would have to deal with the consequences, and the law is an ass with regard to these matters. But I can tell you this -- they'd better be able to run fking fast, because I'd have the bds rather than them have anything I treasure or have worked for.

[Four Cofffee]

Offensive weapon laws only apply in a public place.

Public order laws only apply in a public place.

Unless she threatenmed to kill them, or attacked them I can't see a problem.

We are then into the 'reasonable force' debate and we don't know the circumstances.

[LukeBird]

Hmmm quite an interesting one...
What would the police suggest you did instead?
Calling them is obviously not going to achieve anything and shouting at them is unlikely to achieve anything...
Personally I'd do something pretty similar!

[SimonV8ster]

LukeBird said:

What would the police suggest you did instead?

Wave a yellow duster at them and tell them politly to 'Clear orf'.

[bananapieface]

SimonV8ster said:

LukeBird said:

What would the police suggest you did instead?

Wave a yellow duster at them and tell them politly to 'Clear orf'.

Surely you could smother someone with a duster - ergo duster = weapon.

[Fer]

Cock Womble said:

She can wield my offensive weapon anytime.

She would be OK, as long as it stays under 3 inches.

[Olf]

SimonV8ster said:

LukeBird said:

What would the police suggest you did instead?

Wave a yellow duster at them and tell them politly to 'Clear orf'.

The fact is if you're going to stand at the window waving a knife you're putting yourself at a pretty big risk of the problem escalating. I certainly wouldn't take that risk WITH A KNIFE if I were in sole charge of a two year old in a house by myself. I'd need a longer distance argument ender.

[fadeaway]

People enter a private garden after midnight, and start peering through windows. I can totally understand he reaction.

Wouldn't have waved a knife at them - as others have said, that could escalate the situation. But I'd damn sure have a big knife/alternative within easy each or held out of sight!

Sounds like the police were out of order. Even if what they said is correct they could have waited for a follow up visit to mention it, rather than telling someone when they've still going to be stressed about it.

Edited to add that this "illegal, even in your own home" bit is clearly rubbish. If they'd come into her house she'd have been legally allowed to stab/kill both of them! (provided they weren't trying to run away from screaming, knife weilding home woman of course. Usual caveats apply)

Edited by fadeaway on Sunday 10th January 10:37