---

Criminal Law (Amendment) (Protection of Property) Bill

My hon. Friend is right. That is the common sense required by the Crown v. Palmer and the dictum of Lord Morris, when he set out the law more than 30 years ago. The present position was best summed up by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Paul Goggins), who replied to the debate on the Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Newark:"““There are three levels to the provision: first, we have the law,””" which I have described as the black letter law,"““which the Government believe is perfectly adequate””—" most Labour Members share that view—"““to allow householders to take whatever steps are necessary to defend themselves and their families . . . secondly, the leaflet explains that law in simple, straightforward terms to the general public . . . thirdly, we have the guidance against which the police and the CPS weigh each case.””—[Official Report, 4 February 2005; Vol. 430, c. 1132.]" That belt and braces approach has borne fruit, which is why we have seen no prosecutions whatsoever since those changes were introduced more than a year ago.