If you are in your home when an intruder strikes, there are a number of everyday household items that can be used to help you defend yourself. Here are just a few examples:

Kitchen: Pots & pans, kettle, the kettle cord and plug, a rolling pin, washing powder, etc.

WARNING: Due to the potentially lethal damage they can cause, knives are not seen as a good option for self defence unless you know your life is in danger, for example, if you are being strangled or your attacker is armed.

Living Room: Standard lamp (anything with a plug and flex you can swing), coffee table, rolled-up newspaper, ashtray, flower pot, heavy ornament, etc.

Bathroom: Toilet brush, tooth brush, wet towel with a bar of soap in it, deodorant spray, etc.

Bedroom: Socket end of your bedside lamp, hardback book, a chair, etc.

It should be noted however that if you have an ‘improvised’ weapon which you keep by your bed in case you ever get attacked (for example, a cricket bat, a golf club bat or a screwdriver), then this is no longer classed as an improvised weapon in the eyes of the Law. Your intention was always to use this ‘weapon’ to defend yourself with and, if you do so, it will be deemed as premeditated and not self defence.

If, on the other hand, you had not planned to use a specific item as a weapon and simply picked up the nearest object to help you defend yourself, for example a golf club from your bag of golf clubs, then you improvised your club to become a weapon and it could be used as such…assuming of course, that you actually do play golf.

It’s always best however to learn how to defend yourself using your own body and your wits. Don’t rely on weapons that may or not be there or that you may or may not be allowed to use.