[chimaera]

I know of someone who used to have a neighbourhood tom come in through his cat flap and bully his cat. He somehow rigged up a wire mesh plate to a battery outside the cat flap and put a small devise (like the ones that open cat flaps) on his cat's collar , so when his cat passed over it the plate it was switched off, and when the other cat did it got a nasty shock.
 He could have just used the switch for the cat flap though.....so this was a bit over engineered.

[dereklane]

Its a hypothetical anyway, but there is a vast difference between murder and a zap from an electric fence. Quite rightly, murder is categorised as unreasonable force (the vast majority of burglaries are unarmed - at least, when I last checked these stats), unless murder is in the intentions of the burglar. By the rationale that suggests this to be the correct approach, I would be out shooting kids on the allotment (I hope we're all more civilised that that!). I would be surprised if case law has uncovered any examples of prosecution relating to an ordinary farm-style electric fence, but if you could show me otherwise, I'd be interested.

Nevertheless, a sign on the fence wouldn't be a problem - cats can't read, so far as I know (then, dependent on age, neither can children).

An electric fence that gets a small bird is incorrectly wired - it shouldn't earth unless you're touching the ground. But, if there are other means which work to deter cats where they need deterrance, it probably is a case of overengineering to bother in the first place.

cheers,

Derek

[lincspoacher]

hmm, im unconvinced.

I would put money on a successful prosecution for assault if someone touched the unmarked garden one and got a shock off it, and took umbrage and reported it to the police.

[kezlou]

I studied criminal law for a year and they are plenty of cases where burglars successfully claimed compensation off people who puts under windows, milk bottles near doors (not in plain site) or stupidly for removing the thieving beggars ladder away from the window while he was house at his "business". AS said burglar attempted to climb out of the window with said goods he fell onto the floor breaking his arm and leg. He claimed compensation and won, unbelievably.

But again those electric fences do harm unfortunate animals especially small birds who do not have a high tolerance level. It has nothing to do with being properly earthed, my friends fence was fitted by a fully qualified trained electrician and then verified by her insurance which said it was safe.

Animals are not the as humans and thus can't read, in my eyes i would not liked to be shocked and nether would any animals.  

Sorry for the rant but i think electric fences should be banned.
saying that watch me get a summons off the  person who tried to break into  my house. My brave cats fended him off and chased him over the wall of yard whilst clawing and biting him!!!  :twisted:

[dereklane]

But again those electric fences do harm unfortunate animals especially small birds who do not have a high tolerance level.

Hi Kezlou,

Can I just point out this example; look at all the sparrows on the wires where there are high voltage overhead power lines - they can sit on tens of thousands of volts of electricity because they are not earthed all the way up there.

With electric fencing (where there is a single wire), I have a fair bit of experience, both in setting up, and in being shocked. You get the shock by being earthed. If you sit on the wooden post and hold the wire, you won't get zapped. I just don't understand how its possible that a proper electric fence could zap anything smaller than a dog or cat (ie, something that can reach both the ground and the wire), much less cause physical injury. If it does, its not doing what its supposed to do (in which case, I agree with you).

The first time I was zapped by an electric fence I was 4. Its not so much painful as shocking ( ) It doesn't hurt so much as it makes you angry/scared.  It gives you a boot, its not AC current, you do not experience pain, but sharp muscle contraction. Anyone who's been zapped by an electric fence knows what I mean. Equivalent would be (in case of burglar) being punched in the arm/back/leg, which may be considered reasonable force (but I'm not a law student - was this UK case law where burglars claimed against the house owner?).

cheers,

Derek

[kel28]

God I need 1 of them for my allotment i got up there at 9am yest (2 small children blooming miracle I'm up there that early) and a cheeky fox was just sitting in the middle of my plot looking at me as if to say yeah what do you want cheek!!