FINDING a burglar in your home is many people's worst nightmare. There can be very few who have not stirred uneasily when the wind has got up and turned over the dustbin - or was it someone breaking in?

The law says a homeowner may use "reasonable force" to see off a burglar. The Tories would like to be tougher, so homeowners would only be prosecuted if they used "grossly disproportionate" force. The PM agrees, although the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General appear not to.

There is certainly confusion here - and in many respects.

Labour, for example, does not seem to know which way it faces in its desperation to sound as tough as the Tories as the election looms. There is also confusion about what side-effects a tougher law would have. If it encouraged homeowners to arm themselves, it would make society much less safer for all. Burglars might also respond by going out armed.

There is also confusion about whether a new law is necessary.

Homeowners are not routinely locked up for defending their property. In fact, there have only been two cases in recent years.

A tougher law would not help anyone sleep more soundly. A noise at the door is still going to make anyone start, irrespective of how much force they can use to defend themselves.

In truth, all this talk about violence and burglars is only going to scare more people, particularly the vulnerable, yet the number of people who will have to confront a burglar is, thankfully, rare. A more effective implementation of the existing law would be better.

Burglars should serve the stiff sentences the law allows, and should get intensive help to wean themselves off the drugs that are usually at the root of offending.