What are the requirements for a successful self-defence claim?

• A. Reasonable force appropriate to threat; without excessive force; only to prevent imminent unlawful violence.
• B. Force used must be the minimum possible always; cannot cause any harm; must be authorized by police.
• C. Must be mistaken belief about threat; no force allowed.
• D. Duty to retreat before using force.

Answer: (A)

Self-defence hinges on using force that is reasonable and proportionate to the threat, and used only to prevent imminent unlawful violence. The defender’s belief that force is necessary must be honest and reasonable in the circumstances as they perceived them; even if the belief is mistaken, the defence can still apply if it was reasonable at the time. This is why the statement that describes reasonable force appropriate to the threat, without excessive force, and aimed at preventing imminent unlawful violence best captures the standard.

The other ideas misstate the law: force does not have to be the minimum possible in every situation, and police authorization is not required. There is no general duty to retreat before using force.