SAS Urban Survival Handbook (87 page)

Self-defence

Most people avoid violence. This is not weak, it’s sensible.

The pressure of city living has led to a dramatic increase in violent crime. Minimize the risks to yourself. It’s time to decide how you will defend yourself, if the worst happens.

THE LAW
Self-defence • Legal limits • Offensive weapons • Firearms • The police • Access/search • Arrest • Statements/confessions • Fingerprinting • Identity parades

BEING A WITNESS
Describing a person • Vehicle description

UNDER ATTACK
Violence • Awareness • Attack at home • At night • Telephone nuisance • Intruders • On the streets • Out alone • Being followed • Driving • Hitch hiking • Public transport • Guardian Angels • Mugging • Bag snatching • Pickpockets • Rape • Men at risk • Multiple attackers • Caught in a crowd

HIGH-RISK GROUPS
Children • Young people • Women • The elderly

SELF-DEFENCE
Fighting fit • Martial arts • Warming up • Jogging • Interval training • It’s never too late • Avoiding violence • Personal space • Using words • Personal alarms • Actual weapons • Body targets • Natural weapons • Improvised weapons • On guard

INTO ACTION !
Elbow strike • Breaking holds/strangles

ANIMAL ATTACK
Attacked by a dog • Dog deterrents • Urbanized wildlife

THE LAW

Our lives are affected, usually improved, by the laws which govern us. After all, we help to make them! Most people only come into contact with the police in order to give evidence as a witness—in which case we must
learn how to observe and remember as much detail as possible.

Occasionally, the ‘boot may be on the other foot’. Through mistaken identity, foolhardy behaviour (often linked with alcohol) or ‘being in the wrong place at the wrong time’, we may find ourselves caught up in the processes of arrest and detainment. Such a situation needs very careful handling if it is not to escalate and get out of control.

Much as the police must be trusted to enforce law and order, there is sufficient evidence that mistakes do occur. In a violent struggle, the police may not be able to tell which person is the aggressor. A joke or a gesture from you in a heated situation might be extremely unadvisable. The police ARE people. They will, like most of us, make the occasional error, panic or misinterpret a situation.

YOU may misinterpret the law! You may be carrying a brick to the local builders’ supplier to match the colour. It may be seen as an offensive weapon.

SELF-DEFENCE

Understanding a few points of law might help you to avoid trouble. Most of us never have contact with the police or courts. Some of us may, if only by mistake.

Legal limits

You may only do what is ‘reasonably necessary’ to defend yourself from attack. Each case is different—so what is ‘reasonably necessary’ will vary. British law actually states that you can ‘use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime’. If you genuinely believe your life is at stake, ‘reasonable force’ may be quite extreme, even involving a weapon in some circumstances.

Basically, the action you take to defend yourself or your property must not be excessive. If the law thinks you overdid it, YOU may be liable for prosecution.

The law expects the victim to run away or withdraw when threatened by violence, but this is not always possible.

Offensive weapons

What is an offensive weapon?

A weapon intended or adapted to cause injury and carried for such use by the possessor. A spanner/wrench may

be an offensive weapon, unless you are a mechanic travelling home with a kit of tools.

Who decides if a weapon is offensive?

Usually a judge or jury, or the weapon may be obviously offensive, such as a flick knife.

Can I carry work equipment and sports kits without fear of problems from the police?

The law accepts that tool kits and sports equipment are carried by necessity or for a genuine reason. You are

allowed to carry objects which form part of a national costume or for religious reasons.

Where can I be liable to encounter problems regarding carrying offensive weapons?

In any public place—street, park, sports event, entertainment centre, public transport.

What if the friends I am with are found to possess offensive weapons? Am I liable?