Sussex homeowners who legitimately confront burglars will not be arrested.

Chief Constable Ken Jones has emailed staff urging them to be sensitive to victims who have a right to defend their homes "robustly".

The advice follows controversy over the Government's decision not to change the law.

Instead, new guidelines have been issued stating householders who injure or even kill intruders were unlikely to be prosecuted - providing they were acting "honestly and instinctively".

Those who use "something to hand" as a weapon are also protected.

A leaflet, published by police and prosecutors, aims to combat confusion about current legislation, which lets people use "reasonable force".

Mr Jones, in his message to staff, said: "Be in no doubt that we in Sussex are firmly on the side of householders' rights to defend themselves, their families and property against burglars.

"Burglary is, in my view, one of the worst possible crimes.

"Those whose homes are violated by burglars are deeply and often permanently affected.

"Those who break into our homes deserve and must always expect a robust response from householders, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and courts.

"Those called on to investigate the rare confrontations between burglars and householders must proceed sensitively.

"The routine arrest of a householder against whom an allegation has been made is often the event which triggers severe criticism of the service.

"That 99 per cent of these rare arrests later result in no further action is never reported and calls into question the need to arrest in the first place."