OT - but i'm sure someone here will have an idea

2 1/2 miles for us. They turn out pretty quick, provided they haven't been dragged off to deal with something else. I take it you know the local coppers, they don't bite and if they know you to be a decent sort human nature will tend to mean they respond that little bit better. This is assuming that your immediate area has a dedicated Police team not just a pool of officers that cover the entire division.

Or a 6 D cell maglight. 1 1/2" dia 19" long and heavy, you need to carry a torch at night don't you? Hold it at the lens end with the back end resting on your shoulder, after you've blinded the scroat a quick flip of the wrist brings the back end up and over...

I have one of those. They are quite capable of cracking someone's skull if wielded correctly. Unfortunaly mine has no batteries in it at the moment, which makes it useless.

Also by the door is a broken pickaxe handle, one I snapped off at the head end many years ago

Alex

For scroat read survivor?

Fencers hurt but are not likely to kill a healthy human. I don't consider someone fitted with a pace maker to be healthy (in this context). B-)

Not sure of the pulse rate for a normal fencer, 5 to 10s? This might be to slow to deter a determined human, 1 to 2s might be better.

Last time I saw a policeman here was a couple of years ago, when they wanted to check my security for shotgun cert renewal - a lovely retired guy of about 70. Last serving officer was - no idea

- at least 10 years ago. We are in a low crime area, so I can understand why the place isn't flooded with rozzers, but if anything happened we really would be on our own. Funnily enough, my Council Tax doesn't reflect this.

Excellent idea - I shall get one this weekend. (The mini-maglite I keep by the bed in case of nocturnal wanderings hardly seems adequate.) If you want to share any more cool moves with the group, please feel free.

Rich

I have a 4D Maglite, does the job. I also have a tactical belt - I've done some security work, y'see - kitted out with more torches, Leatherman, cuffs, expandable baton....

Oh, and a golf club.

Hello, Si! You wrote on Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:23:08 -0000:

SK> Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the SK> metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage SK> shed.

We are in a similar position, house is a fair way from stables and the light fingered brigade have visited us in the past. I have now put contact switches on all door and linked them to a radio transmitter. The reciever is kept indoors and even has provision for an autodialler should you be out.

Made by a company called RSS - check 'em out here

Had a bit of fun last winter when the alarm triggered and we quickly when "rabbitting" with a couple of 12 bores. The scrotes pulse rate must have hit 200!

With best regards, Not so Clever Trevor.

Ours drive past several times a day either on visits or patrolling.

So are we, odd break in and criminal damage, mainly down in the town. However we are remote, 20+ miles from anything bigger than a village, so they have to provide the services locally or response times are measured in hours rather than the minutes. We now have 24hr police cover a few years back we didn't. The scroats (nearly always out of area) knew that and would wait until they saw the copper go of duty before starting their work.

There is also a pretty strong community and active Farmwatch(*) scheme, so strangers or unknown vehicles in "odd" places tend to get reported.

Check its weight, with batteries, first it is quite a lump. Not sure if they do a 5 cell certainly 4 and 3. We have 3 D cell Maglight as well, 12 1/2" long and 7" projects from my hand when held at the lens end, might be a bit short.

I take it you already have one of those cheap (

Trouble is with that sort of stuff is that anyone trying to sue you could use "going equiped" against you. Certainly for the baton and you can't play golf in the dark, were as going out at night with a torch is just sensible.

Yeah. But frankly, if I'm burglar hunting, I'd rather be equipped than unequipped; they've got enough advantages already. And if the buggers sue me... well, it's bear trap time.

Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, as soon as the bastards break in they lose all rights to mollycoddling. If they damage my property I'll stop them. If they endanger or harm me, my family or my friends, I'll stop them by whatever means necessary, and if they don't get up that's their own bloody fault. I'd rather go to court than leave myself unable to defend myself.

But yeah, you're absolutely right. In Britain the law's heavily stacked in favour of the criminals, and it's a scandal.

So Torak was, like

Recent article on the subject from Libby Purves in The Times - seems spot-on to me.

"We do not rule that drunken drivers need protecting from brick walls, or worry about bank robbers jarring their backs when the getaway car accelerates. If you prod a sleeping dog it will snap; stick your hand in a fire and get burnt; frighten somebody in his own home and he might lash out. If your victim happens to be lucky, or strong, you could be badly hurt. Well, hard luck. When you forced that window, you forfeited your right not to be thumped."

My thoughts exactly.

Damn good article, I hope Mr Blunkett has seen it. Maybe everyone who agrees with it ought to e-mail the URL to their MP and Mr Blunkett saying that they agree with the sentiment.

Me, I have a silver topped walking stick, no-one is going to deny me the right to carry that and it is just as effective as a golf club (unless you want to play golf with it that is)

A trifle unlikely, I think.

Good idea. As soon as I find the guy's email address....

Try:

And feed it your postcode. Comes back your constituency, MPs name and contact details, phone, snail mail and email etc.