UK Police Department Orders Removal of Wire Mesh - It Might Injure Burglars

[ReaPsTA]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356388/Villagers-outraged-police-order-protect-garden-sheds.html?ITO=1490

Residents in Surrey and Kent villages have been ordered by police to remove wire mesh from their windows as burglars could be injured.

Home owners in the villages of Tandridge and Tatsfield in Surrey and in Westerham, Brasted and Sundridge in Kent have said they are furious that they are being branded 'criminals' for protecting their property.

Locals had reinforced their windows with wire mesh after a series of shed thefts but were told by community police officers that the wire was 'dangerous' and could lead to criminals claiming compensation if they 'hurt themselves'.

Surrey Police have defended the move but outraged residents have attacked the force for seemingly trying to protect criminals.

Thomas Cooper, of Tatsfield, Surrey, said he put the mesh around three of his garden sheds after two break-ins over the past four years.

He said he decided to take action after reports of a rise in shed burglaries in the area near the Kent and Surrey border.

'I have three sheds and had two break-ins in the past four years,' Mr Cooper explained.

'I reinforced my shed windows with wire mesh, but was told by the police I had to be very careful because thieves can actually sue you if they get hurt.

'"I mean, what are you meant to do? Let them take your stuff? It is ridiculous that the law protects them even though they are breaking it.'

Last month mother-of-three Samantha Cullum had her entire shed pinched in the village of Brasted, near Sevenoaks in Kent, when thieves simply lifted it onto a truck in the dead of night.

'We had some tools stolen every now and again, but this time they took the entire shed - I couldn't believe it.'

Tatsfield homeowner Dave Bishop labelled the police advice 'unbelievable' and said people should be allowed to protect their property.

Crime reduction officer for Tandridge PC John Lee commented: 'We are constantly advising homeowners to protect their property and the contents of their shed or garage, however, a commonsense approach needs to be taken.

'To properly secure your sheds, Surrey Police strongly advises people to invest in items such as good-quality locks and bolts, and not to resort to homemade devices, as this could cause injury.'

A police source  added: 'Homemade devices can cause injury and there have been cases where criminals have sued for injuries they have suffered while committing a criminal act.

'We are advising people to do whatever they can to protect their property, but wire mesh is not one of the suggestions we would make.'

Every time I think the U.S. sucks I read stories about the U.K. and remember we still have it pretty good.

I sort of understand the logic here.  If criminals sue then money is wasted.  I also would agree it's not a good thing to, say, put hidden bear traps in your yard.  Stuff isn't worth potentially killing thieves.

But governments waste so much money on so many things.  And they want to get cheap when it comes to dealing with criminals?  I don't understand where this sense of priorities comes from.  Isn't the government supposed to work in the best interests of its law abiding citizens?  They're essentially saying it's okay if you're more likely to be the victim of theft, as long as its cheaper for the government.  Why not rewrite the law so these suits get thrown out of court more quickly?

Basically, they're trying to make the system work more in the interests of the people who work against it than the people it's supposed to serve.  In some cases, this isn't a bad thing.  It would be nice if the U.S. government told media companies they were giving up on enforcing copyright laws.  But theft is a clear cut example of one person taking from another, potentially violently.  I don't see where the debate and complexity are.  If you have wire mesh in your window and a criminal is injured trying to break into your house, you don't owe anything to the person who's stealing from you.  And the government will do everything necessary to make sure it happens that way.  Isn't this obvious?

[Dr. DTVT]

Am I the only person that thinks injuring criminals is a good thing?  It's called "detriment".

[ReaPsTA]

Am I the only person that thinks injuring criminals is a good thing?  It's called "detriment".

I don't like to go there.  It implies that criminals are less than human.  The moment you treat anyone, even a murderer, like he isn't a human being, everyone's attitudes toward everything go in a negative direction.

On the other hand, actions do have consequences.  If someone puts up a wire mesh screen in their window and you get hurt, it's what happens when you try to invade someone's property.  I'm not hardcore supporter of the death penalty for a lot of reasons, but isn't it karma coming back around?

[El Barto]

That's why I only use ricin to protect my property.

This isn't an exclusive UK thing.  Plenty of American criminals have sued homeowners when they got injured on the job.  The problem is with the juries more than anything else. 

[XJDenton]

Daily Mail.