Amid Tory calls for a change in the law to give homeowners more rights to protect themselves against burglars and the Home Secretary's belief that the law is already strong enough, New homeowner guidelines are set to be published by the Crown Prosecution Service. No doubt they'll make interesting reading for burglars too.

Intended to combat public confusion about the current law, the leaflet will explain the point at which defending one's family and property becomes a crime.

The current debate was triggered by Conservative MP, Patrick Mercer's private members bill and former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens' comments that people should be allowed to use what force was necessary when tackling intruders without facing prosecution.

The incoming Home Secretary, Charles Clarke announced the government had no intention of changing the law and said he believed the current law was "sound" but that people were not sure about what their rights were and "we needed to make that clear," he said.

Recently a telephone poll of Londoners found a high number of people who want the right to use force against burglars - 67% said they should have the right to exercise 'unreasonable' force if someone were to break into their home.

And 79% said they thought burglars breaking into a home should have no legal rights at all.

The leaflet will be distributed through Citizens' Advice Bureaux and police forces in England and Wales.