Section 148: Reasonable force for the purposes of self-defence etc
804.Section 148 amends section 76 of the 2008 Act, which provides a gloss on the common law of self-defence and the defences provided by section 3(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1967 and section 3(1) of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.
805.These amendments expand section 76 so that the law relating to self-defence and related defences is set out clearly in one place.
806.Subsection (2) expands the list of defences in section 76(2) of the 2008 Act to include the common law defence of defence of property.
807.Subsection (3) adds a new subsection (6A) to section 76 of the 2008 Act. This is designed to make clear the existing legal position that a person is not under a duty to retreat but the possibility that they could have retreated is an element in the consideration of whether the degree of force used by that person was reasonable in all the circumstances as that person believed them to be.
808.Subsection (4) amends subsection 76(8) of the 2008 Act to make it clear that the new subsection (6A) does not prevent other matters from being taken into consideration when the court is deciding whether the degree of force used by the defendant was reasonable in the circumstances.
809.Subsection (5) amends subsection (10)(a) of the 2008 Act which defines the meaning of “legitimate purpose” for the purpose of section 76 of the 2008 Act. The amendment provides that a legitimate purpose includes the defence of property under common law.
810.Subsection (6) ensures that the amendments to section 76 of the 2008 Act will apply whether the alleged offence took place before, or on or after, the date on which the amendments come into force. The amendments will not apply, however, in relation to a trial on indictment or any proceedings in respect of that trial where the arraignment took place before the date on which the amendments come into force, nor will they apply to a summary trial or any proceedings in respect of that trial which began before the commencement date. Similar transitional provision applies where the alleged offence is a service offence.
811.The amendments to section 76 of the 2008 Act and the transitional provision in subsection (6) will extend to England and Wales only though, in relation to service offences, the amendments and transitional provision also extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland. The remaining provisions of section 76 of the 2008 Act will continue to extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland (and, in relation to service offences, Scotland).
