Federation response to plans to review self defence laws

Responding to news that the self defence laws are to be reviewed, Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:
 
“Reviewing the current self defence laws and putting policy in place to protect the victim is a laudable sentiment; but it is worth remembering this is not the first time the current government has considered such a measure. Two years ago, as Home Secretary, Charles Clarke and his team found the legal implications of this fell short of a deliverable solution”.
 
“It is irresponsible for a government, either current or shadow, to use such a potentially dangerous subject to demonstrate a proactive stance on crime – not least the danger of raising public expectation when the reality is not achievable”.
 
"We need common sense laws that protect the law abiding public against a minority of offenders but we don't want this to act as a green light to use excessive force nor to encourage people to take the law into their own hands”.