Charles Clarke has welcomed the latest moves to explain how the law allows householders to defend their property when confronted by intruders.

The home secretary has previously rejected calls to re-word the current law to make protection for home owners more explicit.

Instead, he has backed a public information campaign to explain what the law does and does not allow.

A leaflet published on Tuesday by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers sought to provide details on what "reasonable force" constitutes.

It says that those acting in defence of their property or lives will not face prosecution as long as they acted "honestly and instinctively".

And the use of a weapon that is "to hand" is also allowed under the existing laws, said the leaflet.

Following the publication, Clarke said that the current law was "sound".

"I firmly believe it is the right of every British citizen to protect himself, his family and his home from intruders of any kind," he said.

"The key issue now is ensuring that householders understand the law. I very much welcome the leaflet that the CPS and ACPO have published today.

"It sets out in plain language what householders' rights are and the level of force they can use when confronted by an intruder.

"This is essential to the government's commitment to making the law on self defence clearer to householders."

Support

Attorney general Lord Goldsmith said the law "supports the rights of householders to protect themselves, their families and their property against intruders by the use of reasonable force".

But the Conservatives said the law should be changed to give more protection to householders.

"This will do nothing to redress the law in favour of the victim and away from the criminal," said spokesman  Patrick Mercer.

"The government needs to address this issue much more seriously and not just try to bolt the stable door after the horse has fled.

"Under pressure from the Conservatives, the government amended the civil law. They must now do so with this law so that it is on the side of householders and shop owners, not the burglar."