Legality around garden spikes

Nathaniel_Essex

As my war on cats continues, I wanted to know the legality around putting up garden spikes? Yesterday I asked my neighbor if he was okay with me putting them up. He was more than happy for me to do so but mentioned that back in the day when he used to work in property (a long time ago), it was law that if you were putting up any spikes, the fence had to be at least 6ft tall.

Is this correct? Most of the fencing around our house in probably 5ft.

TheCyclingProgrammer

https://www.ultrasecuritycentre.co.uk/blog/anti-climb-fence-spikes-how-to-use-them-and-stay-on-the-right-side-of-the-law/

TLDR; you have a duty of care to passers by and even would be intruders and need to ensure any spikes are visible and there are adequate warning signs.

I don't think you have any legal duty of care to animals, though personally it seems excessive to me. I'd feel terrible if a cat or bird got injured from them.

Gloomendoom

If the topping is likely to cause injury to people or animals, it's 2.4 metres but only if the wall borders a public highway ( Highways Act 1980).

Warwick_Hunt

Theses should deter them. https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p88395?searchstr=Spikes

Jonesya

If the spikes aren't possible, have you seen the motion activated water sprays?

Grenage

Hopefully they'll create feline be nematodes sooner rather than later.

armchaireconomist

And how are you going to feel when you find a cat impaled on your fence and the owner is in floods of tears screaming at you?


Get a grip. There's plenty safe ways of deterring them.

Nilrem

armchaireconomist wrote: »

And how are you going to feel when you find a cat impaled on your fence and the owner is in floods of tears screaming at you?


Get a grip. There's plenty safe ways of deterring them.

It depends on the "spike".
There are a lot of "spikes" that are uncomfortable for animals (and humans) but are very unlikely to "impale" them unless you happen to push the cat down on them with enough force you'd hurt them anyway.

Even the old decorative wrought iron spikes were no threat to animals (or humans under most circumstances), let alone anything sold for animal control.

Warwick_Hunt

armchaireconomist wrote: »

And how are you going to feel when you find a cat impaled on your fence and the owner is in floods of tears screaming at you?


Get a grip. There's plenty safe ways of deterring them.

Probably the same way the owner feels when the cats !!!!!!!! in his garden.

Nathaniel_Essex

armchaireconomist wrote: »

And how are you going to feel when you find a cat impaled on your fence and the owner is in floods of tears screaming at you?


Get a grip. There's plenty safe ways of deterring them.

You get a grip and stop exaggerating. We're talking about half inch plastic spikes, not Samurai swords laced in catnip.

Apodemus

Grenage wrote: »

Hopefully they'll create feline be nematodes sooner rather than later.

Most cats probably already have nematodes, despite the fact that owners regularly worm their cats...