Gardener Ordered to Remove Barbed Wire Fence on Grounds It Could 'Wound Thieves'

[HK4U]

would not want to hurt those poor thieves.

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Gardener Ordered to Remove Barbed Wire Fence on Grounds It Could 'Wound Thieves'
Thursday, October 09, 2008


A British gardener’s local council has ordered him to remove a 3-foot high barbed wire fence around his property in case thieves hurt themselves on it, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

Bill Malcolm, 61, installed the wire at his Worcester property after burglars robbed his tool shed and vegetable plots three times in four months, stealing more than $500 worth of hardware.

But Malcolm’s local council told him the wire was a health and safety hazard and warned him they would remove it by force if he did not do it himself, the Mail reported.

“The council said they were unhappy about the precautions I had made but my response was to tell them that only someone climbing over on to my allotment could possibly hurt themselves,” Malcolm told the Mail. “They shouldn't be trespassing in the first place but the council apologized and said they didn't want to be sued by a wounded thief.”

The council said that a fence on the property must be a post or rail fence, not barbed wire.

“With regard to the barbed wire, when this is identified on site, we are obliged to request its removal or remove it on health and safety grounds to the general public as this is a liability issue,” a council spokeswoman told the Mail.

[kwo51]

Only in england and maybe here before long.

[Red Hat]

I'm glad I don't live there. I'd been thrown in jail a long time ago.

[KimberPB]

Only in england and maybe here before long.

I really hope it does not get that bad here....

[tattedupboy]

I have truly heard it all! First they favor the criminals by disarming the law abiding, now they're doing it by making this man remove his barbed wire fencing. What next, outlawing home alarms because the noise might damage a burglarf's hearing?

[LeavingMass]

Sounds like something that could happen in Massachusetts ( New England )

[mom of 3 angels]

All I have to say is

Of course if this did happen in the US he could probably get government money to fund the new fencing they want him to install . . .

[tattedupboy]

Sounds like something that could happen in Massachusetts ( New England )

Do I detect a little subliminal messaging there? I like the parallel you drew there!

[toreskha]

[festus]

Barbwire is such an eyesore. Landmines are far less likely to hurt a burglar but...










far more likely to kill a burglar.