29 October 2015

Ask RiotACT: Razor wire trap

| carrob
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Ask RiotACT

The people next door have erected a coiled razor wire trap along their side fence. I’m not sure whether it’s to keep kids or roaming cats from entering the yard but it looks rather nasty.

The Environment and Planning Department say it is illegal and to contact the Police and the RSPCA. The Police said that seeing as no kid or animal has been maimed or killed there is nothing they can do. The RSPCA said the same.

I would have thought that prevention would be better than cure but hey, let’s all wait for a child or an animal to suffer first — ridiculous!

Thoughts please!

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dungfungus said :

Tooks said :

Grimm said :

carrob said :

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

No, I don’t think so and they would more than likely tell anyone to mind there own business. The barb wire issue is disturbing though as it covers the whole fence, which is only about 5ft high.

Is this directly impacting you or impeding on your use of your own property?

If it was on a shared fence line it would be removed, for no other reason than it is ugly to look at. I would be polite though and give them the option to remove it first.

You could decorate it with lots of coloured crepe paper, you know, like a rainbow?
I would then retreat some distance to evaluate the response and have phone numbers for emergency services handy.

I like the way you think!

Tooks said :

Grimm said :

carrob said :

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

No, I don’t think so and they would more than likely tell anyone to mind there own business. The barb wire issue is disturbing though as it covers the whole fence, which is only about 5ft high.

Is this directly impacting you or impeding on your use of your own property?

If it was on a shared fence line it would be removed, for no other reason than it is ugly to look at. I would be polite though and give them the option to remove it first.

You could decorate it with lots of coloured crepe paper, you know, like a rainbow?
I would then retreat some distance to evaluate the response and have phone numbers for emergency services handy.

Grimm said :

carrob said :

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

No, I don’t think so and they would more than likely tell anyone to mind there own business. The barb wire issue is disturbing though as it covers the whole fence, which is only about 5ft high.

Is this directly impacting you or impeding on your use of your own property?

Why are you asking?

Grimm said :

carrob said :

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

No, I don’t think so and they would more than likely tell anyone to mind there own business. The barb wire issue is disturbing though as it covers the whole fence, which is only about 5ft high.

Is this directly impacting you or impeding on your use of your own property?

If it was on a shared fence line it would be removed, for no other reason than it is ugly to look at. I would be polite though and give them the option to remove it first.

carrob said :

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

No, I don’t think so and they would more than likely tell anyone to mind there own business. The barb wire issue is disturbing though as it covers the whole fence, which is only about 5ft high.

Is this directly impacting you or impeding on your use of your own property?

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

dungfungus said :

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

No, I don’t think so and they would more than likely tell anyone to mind there own business. The barb wire issue is disturbing though as it covers the whole fence, which is only about 5ft high.

Has anyone bothered to ask the people who occupy the house why they installed it?

So it is actually razor wire or is it really barbed wire plus some embellishment? Is it really a trap or is it a barrier plus some embellishment? If razor wire is legal to own by everyday punters, i’d be surprised.

wildturkeycanoe6:40 am 26 Oct 15

carrob said :

Wildturkeycanoe – you are a numpty! Besides only having small children living on the side that the wire is erected it is a major hazard to wildlife. Many animals that become entangled die a slow and cruel death. Nocturnal animals are more at risk and, in their efforts to escape, may wind themselves around the barbs several times. Most animals that get caught fail to see the fence, or are unable to clear it. Trying to protect your assets from a cat or a possum,for instance, is ridiculous of you to say!

You didn’t mention that the boundary fence was on the side that had kids living next door, but my comment stands. The boundary fence should be at least 1.5m high, so small kids shouldn’t be able to reach the razor wire anyway. If they are big enough, then they should know better than to stick their hands in it. Just like if the neighbor had an aggressive dog, you would be advising your kids to stay clear of the boundary. Maybe the neighbor got sick and tired of kids climbing over into their yard all the time, I don’t know. Perhaps the neighbor has decided to get a large dog and is worried it will jump over the fence and is doing the right thing by making the boundary escape proof? They may have gotten sick and tired of cats urinating in their own kids sandpit, or having their garden beds dug up.
As for the spiel about animals getting killed by the fence, I would easily claim that more animals get killed on Tuggeranong parkway than on razor wire fences. How many get tangled in the perimeter of the AMC I wonder? If it was such a big issue the RSPCA would be out on the Monaro Highway protesting about the cruelty.
I am still a firm believer that a man’s home is his castle, call me old fashioned but if it is on your own property then I think you have the right to do what you want.
If the wire overlaps the boundary onto your side then I concede it should be moved back so as not to be a hazard, but they should still have the right to keep it up.

They have drugs and want to 1. protect their drugs, and 2. slow down a raid by police. Re-enforced steel doors are another version.

Sounds like a typical couldn’t give a st*ff response from E&P to my mind. If it’s an illegal addition to a fence the ball’s in their court, not the police or the RSPCA. For goodness sake, they administer, poorly, the ACT’s planning laws!

wildturkeycanoe said :

If no animals or kids go near it, then it has fulfilled its purpose. If injury occurs then why is it the fault of the property owner who is trying to protect their assets? I never understood why a trespasser can sue the owner if they are injured whilst breaking the law. Why do criminals get protection and victims get victimized even further?

Wildturkeycanoe – you are a numpty! Besides only having small children living on the side that the wire is erected it is a major hazard to wildlife. Many animals that become entangled die a slow and cruel death. Nocturnal animals are more at risk and, in their efforts to escape, may wind themselves around the barbs several times. Most animals that get caught fail to see the fence, or are unable to clear it. Trying to protect your assets from a cat or a possum,for instance, is ridiculous of you to say!

The Common Boundaries Act would apply- it is administered by ACAT. Also, there may be specific Lease and Development Conditions which apply to the fence requirements for the block. Home owners should consider their neighbours when altering common fences.

1. It is formed in large coils and expanded like a concertina, i.e. like prison wire.

2. I have no idea what section of legislation makes it illegal, it is what I was told over the phone.The guy I spoke to said that he would pass it on to the police but we called anyway and the police told us someone/thing would have to be injured before they could act.

Razor wire or barbed wire?

wildturkeycanoe1:14 pm 24 Oct 15

If no animals or kids go near it, then it has fulfilled its purpose. If injury occurs then why is it the fault of the property owner who is trying to protect their assets? I never understood why a trespasser can sue the owner if they are injured whilst breaking the law. Why do criminals get protection and victims get victimized even further?

Affirmative Action Man11:23 am 24 Oct 15

2 Questions

1. What precisely do you mean by “trap”

2. If E & P said it was illegal then exactly what section of what legislation makes it illegal ?

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