The Graun carries a short report about a survey of householders which shows that one in three people keeps a makeshift weapon beside their bed as protection against burglars. It was also covered on 5Live this morning.

Householders confessed to putting items such as golf clubs, cricket bats and heavy torches within reach for self-defence from burglars, researchers found, and more than half said they were prepared to use them.

While this is a pretty damning indictment of where our society has got itself to, I was surprised that neither the Graun or the Beeb mentioned that keepting a weapon beside your bed is actually (IIRC) illegal. You are only allowed to use something to hand. Now obviously you can concoct an argument that the cricket bat/torch/steel bar that you used to brain the intruder was by your bed for completely innocent purposes, but itsn't it rather horrific that the state would rather turn a third of the population into liars rather than let them plan for their own self-defence?