On or around Thu, 5 Jan 2006 15:03:34 +0000 (UTC), "Badger" enlightened us thusly:
yeah, but he's also not supposed to shoot the TPB[1] in the back as he's running away. Shooting over his head, or into the ground behind him, would probably still have got him into trouble, but he'd not have been up on a murder charge.
Which doesn't mean I don't agree with you - people who nick stuff deserve their arse kicked. Broken bones, if they weren't fighting back, are probably getting into the excessive force area. multiple broken bones definitely.
I do tend to the view that fighting violence with more violence is self-defeating and to be avoided. If you can't avoid violence, then minimal violence is best.
[1] Thieving Pikey Bastard