What constitutes as ‘self-defence’ can seem like a murky area, but UK law paints a much clearer picture. The security experts at ADT are here to take you through the different laws that cover self-defence in the UK, alongside everything else you need to know.

Our aim is to make sure you never have to think about self-defence. Have a chat with our friendly team and improve your home’s security with our leading solutions.

What does self-defence mean?

According to criminal law, self-defence is when someone counteracts an attack or potential attack on themselves. The intension should be only to protect yourself against any harm, not to cause it.

The law does allow people to defend themselves, but you can only do what is reasonably necessary. In short, you can only use force to prevent a crime happening to you or assist an arrest.

Are self-defence weapons legal in the UK?

Often, the first question that comes to mind in relation to self-defence is whether you can carry a weapon to defend yourself. The answer is no; in the UK, it’s illegal for any member of the public to carry a weapon, lethal or not. Doing so can result in a sentence of 6 years, or 10 years if it’s a firearm.

However, an object in the home can be used if an intruder is present; this is defined as ‘in the heat of the moment’.

What about self-defence sprays?

Yes, even defence sprays are illegal to carry in the UK under the Firearms Act 1968. Even though the public can’t carry defence spray, law enforcement can use pepper spray for crowd and riot control when reasonable.

If carrying something is going to improve your peace of mind, the only legal self-defence item is a personal alarm. Whilst some self-defence sprays claim to be legal, they potentially haven’t been subject to a legal test.

Do I have to be attacked first for it to be considered self-defence?

It’s widely assumed that you can only act in self-defence if you are physically attacked first, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Like in most self-defence situations it’ll depend on the circumstances, but it's possible you can justify pre-emptively striking to protect yourself, your home or someone else.

You must always have a good reason to do so. Before you act, have a think about these questions:

• Is there need for force?
• How much force is reasonable?
• What is the attacker’s size/ build compared to yours?
• When should you stop using force?
• Is it malicious?

It’s important to note that if your action was ‘excessive’ for the circumstances, it could be seen as ‘grossly disproportionate force’ under Section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. You could face prosecution if your actions prove to be malicious or an act of revenge.

Can self-defence be used to protect someone else?

If someone else is being attacked, you can use force to stop the assault and defend yourself in the process, but as always, the force must be proportionate to the circumstances.

Can I use self-defence if someone breaks into my home?

You can always use reasonable force to protect yourself, your home and your family if someone tried to burgle your home; you also don’t need to wait to be attacked to act.

As with all self-defence scenarios, there are important things you need to consider. If you’re aware that there is a burglar in your home, the first step should always be to call the police.

We know that making decisions in the heat of the moment is extremely stressful, so it can be difficult to weigh up the right level of force. You’re not expected to spend time assessing your options, but it will be expected that you act in a way that’s lawful and fair.

What to do if you need to defend yourself

The ultimate aim of self-defence should always be to remove the danger and bring things to a safe end. You should:

• Assess the situation - you will have a few seconds to figure out the level of risk and the harm the attacker could cause you e.g., do they have a weapon
• Call the police and seek help -  our Police Response monitoring plan can help you pre-emptively prepare for intruders
• Remove yourself from the situation – there’s nothing wrong with leaving the property if possible and contacting the authorities, especially if the situation is deemed to be too dangerous

Now that you know how self-defence law works in the UK, you can better prepare for those unfortunate situations. Recognising the signs of potential burglary can also be extremely helpful, which is why we’ve created a step-by-step guide detailing what to look out for.