Police officers in a town in Essex, England, has a unique way of making sure the town's residents stay safe: the cops will break into their homes in the middle of the night.
Sleeping householders are going to be woken up in the middle of the night to discover someone breaking into their house - only to discover it is the police.
Police in Shoebury, Essex, have been going round testing doors and windows of houses to check if they have been left unlocked - and if they find an easy way in they will wake up the household to warn them their house is insecure.
The new police campaign is aimed at warning people of the dangers of late-night break ins - but predictably, those who have been woken have not been happy so far.
Well, I suppose it's better the cops than the burglars: Link
In my area, at least, they would occasionally try doors on their rounds.
I don't think they have time for that any more.
If someone enters your property, it's considered "breaking in" even if nothing is broken.
I guess if you're going to leave your door unlocked, it's your own choice (or stupidity if you're in a high crime area). I sometimes forget to lock my car at night, but there's nothing it for anyone to take.
The police in Brisbane used to do something similar with cars in train station carparks. They'd check that the doors were locked & that there wasn't anything expensive or valuable visible in the car. Then when you'd get off the train you'd have a nice little note on your windscreen either giving you a slap on the wrist, or congratulating you for not tempting thieves.
There you have it - sue the idiots. What happens when a half asleep homeowner lashes out and badly injures one of these policemenm acting on some moronic initiative dreamed up by some twat in an office?
is where the title came from.
At my house, they'd be in great danger of a chewed leg, as my dog doesn't believe any stranger should cross the threshold without escort.
In England and Wales the government have supposedly clarified the situation, but it is still up to the courts to decide whether the force used in defending your property is proportionate. A lot hinges on how the court decides a reasonable person would have reacted, and how that putative reasonable person would have perceived the threat. Would a court of law consider it reasonable to stab a uniformed police officer, even if you found them uninvited in your home? Unlikely.
OK so that is somewhat over simplified, but with a system of common law you have to over simplify unless you want a two week argument in a court.
This is not going to end well.