The law recognises a person’s right to protect themselves when they are being physically attacked or are faced with a threat of physical violence. The extent to which it is permissible to use violence in self-defence depends on the circumstances and the extent of the threat faced. In New South Wales, the defence of self-defence was codified in the Crimes Act in 2001. When is it lawful to act in self-defence? Section 418 of the Crimes Act 1900 provides that a person is not criminally responsible for an offence if the person carries out the offence in self-defence. A person carries out an offence in self-defence if the person believes their actions are necessary To defend themselves or another person; To prevent or end the unlawful deprivation of liberty; To protect property; To prevent criminal trespass to land or premises And the conduct is a reasonable response to the circumstances as the person perceives them. A person faced with a threat and acting in the heat of the moment is not expected to ‘weigh the exact measure’ of force that is appropriate to use in self-defence. Rather, the law allows for a person to use a degree of force that is proportionate to the threat being faced as the person perceives it at the time. In other words, the response is to be assessed based on the circumstances as they appeared at the time of the act and not with the benefit of hindsight. Get More Information on The Defence of Self-Defence in NSW