'Reasonable force' doubts go to Downing Street
So how would you react?... you return home to find burglars in the house. Would you take them on and, if you did, would you feel confident the law and the courts would be on your side. That's the issue that confronted one Nottingham family.
Striding into Downing Street, Jacqui McKenzie-Johnson cuts an impressive figure. She's a mother with a mission. She wants the law changed to give people greater legal rights to protect themselves and their homes from intruders.
Accompanied by family and friends from Nottingham, she was on her way to Number 10 to deliver a petition for the Prime Minister.
Back in March 2009, her home in the Basford area of Nottingham was broken into. Her 22-year-old son, Omari Roberts, took on two intruders. In the scuffle, one them was stabbed and died from his injuries. He was 17-year-old Tyler Juett.
Omari was charged with his murder.
For 13 months, Omari faced the prospect of a long prison sentence, until the Crown Prosecution Service decided to drop the charge.
"I wouldn't want another family to go through the horrendous ordeal my son, my family and community went through," Jacqui told me.
That's why her family and supporters from Nottingham came to Downing Street.
They want the law clarified on what constitutes the "reasonable force" people are allowed to use as self-defence in their own homes.
They've set up their own campaign, called "Safe as Houses".
"The law should not be using the term 'reasonable force'. It is an unreasonable situation. Why are we expected to behave reasonably with unreasonable people who break into your home to steal your property."
Jacqui handed in a petition to 10 Downing Street signed by more than 2,500 people.
Backing her campaign is the Nottingham North Labour MP Graham Allen. He wants the Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke to take another look at the current legislation.
"Clearly the law is failing. Let's do what Ken Clarke said he would do and review the law in full," he told me.
Jacqui welcomes that but says she won't rest until the issue... and the law... is finally clarifed.
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Hello. My name is John Hess. I'm the BBC's Political Editor for the East Midlands and this blog will offer my musings on the political scene from Westminster to closer to home. 
