If there's a strange person trying to break into your house, the intricacies of the law are probably the last thing on your mind. But any steps you take could throw you into a legal minefield.
"The theory is every person's house is their castle, and in theory is inviolable, unless someone has a lawful right of entry," Mr Potts says.
"For example, I might think that one punch is reasonable, but you might think that two punches are reasonable. For example, Mr Potts says if someone invaded your property by placing a toe over the fence line, it would not be reasonably necessary for you to shoot them.Mr Potts says it can be especially difficult in the heat of the moment.
"Well-meaning as you may well be, [physically restraining intruders] might in fact be breaching the criminal law and it then becomes a question for a jury to determine what should happen to you," he says.
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