[3], Defence of Property (Pre-2013 Amendments), http://criminalnotebook.ca/index.php?title=Defence_of_Property&oldid=54252, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The concept of "peaceable possession" has been interpreted to mean that the possession of the property must not be seriously challenged by others. All jurisdictions allow individuals to use force in defense of property under certain specified circumstances. Powers of High Court. It must be necessary for the lawful purpose of removing a trespasser. Criminal Procedure Code CAP. The force was used against the actual wrongdoer; and 2. as they did not begin the encounter in "peaceable possession" of the property, the defence is not available to them as a means of re-acquiring it). One new defence of property provision would be created, eliminating the many distinctions regarding acts a person can take in defence of different types of property. However, in * J. D., Northwestern University, 1973. With three-quarters of them based in large part upon the American Law Institute’s Model Penal Code of 1962 (MPC), they tend to be carefully drafted and highly principled. Defence of house or real property 41. This … "does not have a claim of right") and the person who interfered with the property is "entitled to its possession by law". The defence of property can arise when a person's "peaceable possession" of property is threatened or challenged by another, such as by a person who is trying to take or damage the property or trespass on it. General Principles. In addition to the right of self-defence at common law, section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 states that. The Commissioners initially adopted the defense as it is usually de-fined by the courts and legislatures.' Many other types of property disputes may escalate and give rise to threats to personal safety, thereby potentially allowing use of force (or other defensive acts) in self-defence. Canada's Criminal Code provides separate rules of law when it comes to defence of property, at 38-41, as follows: "Every one who is in peaceable possession of personal property, and every one lawfully assisting him, is justified in preventing a trespasser from taking it, or in taking it from a trespasser who has taken it, if he does not strike or cause bodily harm to the trespasser. 75 C44 - 5 [Issue 1] PART IV – PROVISIONS RELATING TO ALL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS PLACE OF TRIAL Section 66. Under the old law, the various forms of interference were addressed in distinct defences. 428 - Interpretation; 430 - Mischief; 433 - Arson and Other Fires; 437 - Other Interference with Property; 444 - Animals; 445.1 - Cruelty to Animals; 448 - PART XII - Offences Relating to Currency. Private defence of property is available when a person uses force to defend an interest in property, for example; to prevent a would-be thief from taking his own, or another’s property, to prevent someone from damaging his own or another’s property, to prevent an intruder from entering his own or another’s property… Like the new law of self-defence, the new law of defence of property expressly requires that the triggering threat to be assessed on a combined subjective (i.e. A person must not resort to the commission of a crime in such non-urgent situations. 1 - Short Title; 2 - Interpretation; 3.1 - Part I. 69. Only a reasonable amount of force was used to protect the property.In a defense of property claim, it is not enough that the defendant reasonably believed that the plaintiff was going to harm their property A property owner is permitted to use reasonable force to remove someone who is trespassing. Self defence and the prevention of crime originates from a number of different sources. [1], The force must be "no more force than is reasonably necessary". Peaceable possession was a fundamental concept in the old law and is retained in the new defence of property provision. This defence is contained under the provision of S. 23 of the Criminal Code. Rather, a person who is not actually in possession of property they have a claim to must have resort to the civil law, or seek assistance from other authorities such as the police, to resolve a conflict over their entitlement to the property. 67. It is to be assessed on a purely subjective basis. In the case of defence of property, law enforcement action that could trigger a defence claim could involve the execution of a search warrant and/or seizure of property during the course of an investigation. Defence — property. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the other person is doing something that they are required or authorized by law to do in the administration or enforcement of the law, unless the person who commits the act that constitutes the offence believes on reasonable grounds that the other person is acting unlawfully. New subsection 35(2) provides a special rule excluding application of the defence where the initial property possessor has a weak claim to the property (i.e. eral Criminal Laws considered whether or not to codify the defense of necessity in the Proposed New Federal Criminal Code. Amendments to the defence of property provisions would repeal the confusing defence of property language that is now spread over five sections of the Criminal Code (s.38-42). 1 - Short Title; 2 - Interpretation; 3.1 - Part I. Law > Indian Penal Code > Section 97 Section 97 of the IPC discusses the right of private defence of body and property. Some of the common law principles surrounding self-defence have been codified in Queensland in the Criminal Code 1899. A response in defence of property may involve any "act", not necessarily the "use of force" as was required by the text of the old law. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person who believes on reasonable grounds that they are, or who is believed on reasonable grounds to be, in peaceable possession of the property does not have a claim of right to it and the other person is entitled to its possession by law. Criminal Code. 35 (1) A person is not guilty of an offence if. This includes a home. Defence and Defence of Property Provisions Kent Roach* The new sections 34 and 35 of the Criminal Code replace and simplify the old sections 34–42 of the Criminal Code. The seriousness of the challenge is not assessed by looking at the relative strengths of legal title or other legal claims, but rather, whether any challenge is likely to result in a breach of the peace.Footnote 16. See Gunning, supra note 11 and Baxter, supra note 10. In essence, this is a scenario where the person who interferes with another's possession has a better legal claim to the property. American criminal codes (ACCs) are in many ways the most advanced in the world. what the accused honestly believed) and objective (i.e. It also functions to prevent the defence from being invoked by a property owner who commits an offence in order to recover or re-take property that is not in their possession. This approach appears to be generally consistent with the interpretation given to various versions of the old defence of property. 35 (1) A person is not guilty of an offence if. 70. Defence of property Section 274 of the Criminal Code 1899 provides that it is lawful for a person to use reasonable force to resist a trespasser taking their property provided the person does not do grievous bodily harm to the trespasser. This section provides that a person would not be criminally liable for an act or omission done in relation to property in the exercise of an honest claim of right over the property and without an intention to defraud. Amendments to the defence of property provisions will repeal the confusing defence of property language that is now spread over five sections of the Criminal Code (s.38-42). They were drafted with the laudable aim of customizing the application of self-defence to distinct circumstances that may demonstrate somewhat different moral qualities. The criminal law is concerned about maintaining public order and, accordingly, the requirement of peaceable possession reflects this objective by limiting the defence, which exonerates otherwise criminal conduct, to circumstances where it is appropriate. Peaceable possession was a fundamental concept in the old law and is retained in the new defence of property provision. 68. This rule is consistent with the level of protection provided to property possessors under the old law. Personal property is any movable object. 428 - PART XI - Wilful and Forbidden Acts in Respect of Certain Property. R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 35; 2012, c. 9, s. 2. It should also be noted that the defence is expressly available to anyone acting under the authority of, or lawfully assisting a property possessor, so long as the assistor reasonably believes that the other person actually has peaceable possession. The person who interferes is not entitled to claim the defence against any criminal offences committed to obtain or otherwise deal with the property (i.e. Unlike an unwanted interference with bodily integrity, which is a straightforward concept that can be expressed simply, interferences with property can take many different forms. The defence of property can arise when a person's "peaceable possession" of property is threatened or challenged by another, such as by a person who is trying to take or damage the property or trespass on it. 448 - Interpretation; 449 - Making; 450 - Possession; 452 - Uttering; 455 - Defacing or Impairing Defense of Property. Sections 96 to 106 of the Indian Penal Code state the law relating to the right of private defence of person and property. 35 (1) A person is not guilty of an offence if. Defence — property. Removal of accused person under warrant. The new provision permits a person in “peaceable possession” of a property to commit a reasonable act (including the use of force) for the purpose of protecting that property from being taken, damaged or trespassed upon. [2] This enactment amends the Criminal Code to enable a person who owns or has lawful possession of property, or persons authorized by them, to arrest within a reasonable time a person whom they find committing a criminal offence on or in relation to that property. A person is not guilty of an offence if (a) they either believe on reasonable grounds that they are in peaceable possession of property or are acting under the authority of, or lawfully assisting, a person whom they believe on reasonable grounds is in peaceable possession of property; (b) they believe on reasonable grounds that another person (i) is about to enter, is entering or has entered the property … General authority of courts. One new defence of property provision would be created, eliminating the many distinctions regarding acts a person can take in defence of different types of property. Defence of the person is governed by the common law. However, defense of the home is discussed in Section 5.3.3 “Defense of Habitation”. For property offences, however, it is a defence to show that the person broke the law by acting in the exercise of an honest claim of right and without any intention to defraud (s 22 Criminal Code). Just as the new law of defence of person contains an express "defensive purpose" requirement, so does the new law of defence of property. Property can be real or personal. For instance, it ensures that a person who is not in peaceable possession of property – such as a thief in possession of stolen property or a protester occupying a government building – will not have access to the defence if they resist efforts of others to enter or re-take property. would the "reasonable person" also share the accused's belief) basis. Right to Defend Real or Personal Property - Free Legal Information - Laws, Blogs, Legal Services and More Accused person to be sent to district where offence committed. where there is not a simultaneous threat to human life or safety).Footnote 17 A dwelling-house is a special kind of property – threats in relation to a dwelling house typically also create an element of personal danger which likely is enough to trigger defence of the person, which does allow for deadly force to be used. Defence of property however, is governed by the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Criminal Code. Arrest and the prevention of crime are governed by the Criminal Law Act 1967. This ties in with Zecevic where the High Court noted that the only reasonable justification for the use of lethal force is in situations where the threat was such that the person held a reasonable apprehension that death or serious harm may be the result. For example, a person charged with stealing as a result of writing company cheques payable to themselves, cashing those cheques and keeping the money may say they have a claim of right if: A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime or in arresting offenders or suspects. 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