Will I get arrested?
Discussion
I haven't done anything yet.........
Let me lay out the situation, I come off a farm and recently somebody has been jumping over the fence in one of our fields and stealing some of the crop and damaging it in the process, when I work out when they are coming I will be waiting for them, I plan on waiting with my camera and taking photos of them before challenging them.
My question is, how much physical force can I use if they try to run off or get a bit 'angry' without me being sued or arrested. I don't plan on using any form of physical force unless I have to, ie. i'm not going to jump out of the undergrowth and attack them
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Let me lay out the situation, I come off a farm and recently somebody has been jumping over the fence in one of our fields and stealing some of the crop and damaging it in the process, when I work out when they are coming I will be waiting for them, I plan on waiting with my camera and taking photos of them before challenging them.
My question is, how much physical force can I use if they try to run off or get a bit 'angry' without me being sued or arrested. I don't plan on using any form of physical force unless I have to, ie. i'm not going to jump out of the undergrowth and attack them
Any advice greatly appreciated.
I always define reasonable force as the force necessary to overcome resistence with the minimum of 'extra' force. To detain a fleeing thief by jumping on him and holding him there is reasonable. Panning him one whilst doing so and pumped up with adrenalin isn't reasonable.
If he starts to struggle violently then your 'force' to overcome his violent resistence would rise proprtionately to maintain any form of status quo (no not the Rocking All Over The World one).
Bear in mind things such as your age, your height, build, level of fitness. Compare all of these to the would-be thief and you may find he'll come easier if you compare favourably to him in these aspects.
Reasonable is meeting force with equal not excessive. Just enough to make him submissive to your demands. Not render him unconscious.
Definately no assaulting him as he runs away, not good for self-defence. So no clodges in the back of the neck.
If he starts to struggle violently then your 'force' to overcome his violent resistence would rise proprtionately to maintain any form of status quo (no not the Rocking All Over The World one).
Bear in mind things such as your age, your height, build, level of fitness. Compare all of these to the would-be thief and you may find he'll come easier if you compare favourably to him in these aspects.
Reasonable is meeting force with equal not excessive. Just enough to make him submissive to your demands. Not render him unconscious.
Definately no assaulting him as he runs away, not good for self-defence. So no clodges in the back of the neck.
hedders said:
As a farmer, are you not entitled to be wandering around your land with a shotgun whenever you please?
I am sure the sight of a man with a raised shotgun 'almost' mistaking them for a fox would deter them from coming back!
I am sure the sight of a man with a raised shotgun 'almost' mistaking them for a fox would deter them from coming back!
I agree, except the 'almost' bit. No deterrent needed then.
With all due respect Joey in view of you posting this could be deemed as pre meditated should violence be used but that said as far as I know the right to conduct a civil arrest still remains.
Just take great care - if the crop is being cut with a bladed implement in the thefts then this may be turned against you as other posters have raised.
Good luck
Just take great care - if the crop is being cut with a bladed implement in the thefts then this may be turned against you as other posters have raised.
Good luck
Had the same sort of problem myself - but how will you know when they are coming? In my case I guessed it was around 2am, but different days.
Tried better locks. Didn't work, they just smashed their way into buildings.
Fitted expensive alarms. Didn't work, they got around them bu figuring out what wasn't alarmed.
Fitted cameras. They ignored them.
Finally - wired up military thunderflashes to trip wires...
...That worked, haven't seen them since!
Tried better locks. Didn't work, they just smashed their way into buildings.
Fitted expensive alarms. Didn't work, they got around them bu figuring out what wasn't alarmed.
Fitted cameras. They ignored them.
Finally - wired up military thunderflashes to trip wires...
...That worked, haven't seen them since!
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