Law in our hands

“Have-a-go-heroes” will be offered greater protection from prosecution by provisions included in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which came into force on 15 July. The Act specifies that people acting in self-defence will not be prosecuted if they use no more force than necessary to protect themselves. Justice Minister Jack Straw says that dealing with crime should not be the sole responsibility of the criminal justice system, “this law will help ensure the criminal justice system is firmly weighted in favour of the victim”. Mr Straw made clear he did not encourage vigilantism, but that there could be no justice in a system which makes the victim the criminal.