Legality around garden spikes

Nathaniel_Essex · 2 September 2017 at 4:53PM

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 · 2 September 2017 at 5:08PM

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 · 2 September 2017 at 6:23PM

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 · 2 September 2017 at 6:35PM

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

Jonesya · 2 September 2017 at 7:06PM

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

Grenage · 2 September 2017 at 9:45PM

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

armchaireconomist · 4 September 2017 at 9:46AM

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 · 4 September 2017 at 3:17PM

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 · 4 September 2017 at 3:56PM

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 · 4 September 2017 at 8:13PM

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 · 4 September 2017 at 8:36PM

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...

Legality around garden spikes

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