New self defence laws back 'have-a-go heroes'

[Tete123]

New laws coming into force today will give greater protection to "have-a-go heroes" who challenge burglars or other criminals.
It will mean that members of the public who tackle criminals are unlikely to be prosecuted if they can show they acted instinctively or because they feared for their safety.
Jack Straw, the justice secretary, who has himself intervened four times to stop criminals, said the government wanted to favour the victim rather than encourage vigilantism...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jul/15/justice.jackstraw
About time the victim came first!!

Have the NuLab government finally conceded defeat by passing this law?
This is yet another Conservative proposal reworded and implemented by NuLab.. I doubt we will even feel a difference after the GE in 2 years.

NuLab are completely aware that the police are not coping with the rising tide of crime in the U.K, allowing the victim to intervene to tackle crime highlights this, but what are the negative consequences?

Who deems the intervention as reasonable force, the courts? The police?

I hate to say this but I fear I am joining the Conservative bandwagon.