So the conclusion, at least for the UK, has to be not to be 'have-a-go Heroes' - chances are you will either end up hurt or in court. Speaking entirely non-legally, how depressing is that? I can see the danger of allowing people to dish out a good slapping willy-nilly, and I'm not advocating VA law shooting druggies at will, but some sort of 'common sense' definition of being a 'good citizen helping to keep the peace' would be a helpful development I would have thought. One sometimes does find yourself thinking these people deserve MBEs not prison.