’Reasonable force’ can be used to remove an unexpected intruder in your home.

Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) tabled a written House of Keys question to Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey this week, asking whether it was permissible to remove someone who has entered your home ’without prior knowledge and consent’ and how to do so.

Mr Malarkey said the advice from the Attorney General was: ’Reasonable -and therefore by implication, proportionate - force may be used in the defence of one’s property, which includes the issue of a trespasser.

’The owner of a home can use as much force as is necessary, provided it is reasonable and proportionate, either to prevent entry in the first place, or to remove once having entered.’

However the manner ’by which reasonable force is applied’ would vary depending on the circumstances.

In a separate question, Mr Moorhouse asked what protection a home-owner had to ensure a delivery person did not enter their home without consent.

Mr Malarkey said in general terms an offence may not have been committed because there may not have been any criminal intent.

’Trespass of this kind is not of itself a criminal offence,’ he added. ’There may however be civil law issues and remedies for trespass.’

One solution, he suggested, might be to ask the delivery person to leave and, if they refused, call the police.

The Manx Independent understands the questions follow an incident in Mr Moorhouse’s constituency.