Pepper spray in uk

[Britzy]

Hey,
i am seriously considering buying pepper spay(or mace?is there a difference?). I live i the uk and realise it counts as an offensive weapon.

1.I was hoping there would be someone in map who could tell me what would happen if the police caught me with it...

2. What would happen if i used it in self defence and the police caught me after doing this...(doubtful as i wouldnt be hanging around... but hey)

Im hoping for someone involved in the law to give me an insight..
thanks

[Bil Gee]

Hey,
i am seriously considering buying pepper spay(or mace?is there a difference?). I live i the uk and realise it counts as an offensive weapon.

1.I was hoping there would be someone in map who could tell me what would happen if the police caught me with it...

2. What would happen if i used it in self defence and the police caught me after doing this...(doubtful as i wouldnt be hanging around... but hey)

Im hoping for someone involved in the law to give me an insight..
thanks

"In the UK, where it is classed as an offensive weapon, the sale and possession of pepper spray is illegal."

from http://www.answers.com/topic/pepper-spray

seems like a bad idea.

[TheCount]

Pepper spray is illegal and mace is VERY illegal. Pepper spray you can actually learn to be uneffected by but mace is just plain brutal. Forms of CS Gas and Gel are also quite nasty and also very illegal. Why do you want it?

[Britzy]

I want it for self defence...ive been involved in a couple of incidents which have gone ok but i feel that pepper spray would guarantee(i use that word lightly...i realise the 'what ifs') my chance of escape against most potential attackers who make themselves known to me beforehand...

[TheCount]

Or don't get into that situation ?

[Sgt_Major]

I know what your saying, Ive considered getting it myself, but in the end using it WILL get you a record, and thats something Im not in any rush to get. If you actually used it, even eorse, as thats assault with an offensive weapon, so you looking at potential inside time :(

I'd suggest just spending more time training. Its not great, but its best the law allows.

[galorin]

I don't have a link handy, but google should help. There's a company out there that sells a spraycan containing sticky red goo with a long-lasting UV dye. It'll slow down your attacker, possibly impairing their vision, and making them easier to spot by law enforcement. The goo doesn't wash off easily, and the uv dye will show up several days later. It is perfectly legal to carry in the UK.

As an aside, unless you've got the spray in your hand and ready, the odds of being able to effectively use CS, Mace, or red goo squirter are probably quite slim. Especially in an unexpected attack. If you are prone to attacks, change your behavior, best self-defense out there IMHO.

[prowla]

Going out armed with mace makes you the aggressor!

[tellner]

Pepper spray is illegal and mace is VERY illegal. Pepper spray you can actually learn to be uneffected by but mace is just plain brutal. Forms of CS Gas and Gel are also quite nasty and also very illegal. Why do you want it?

OC is actually much more effective that Mace (which is aerosolized kerosne) or CS.

[tellner]

There's a company out there that sells a spraycan containing sticky red goo with a long-lasting UV dye. It'll slow down your attacker, possibly impairing their vision, and making them easier to spot by law enforcement. The goo doesn't wash off easily, and the uv dye will show up several days later. It is perfectly legal to carry in the UK.

Oh crud, is Dye Witness still out in the wild? That is one of the lamest self defense devices I have ever seen (which is saying a lot). It turns out that it actually washes off pretty easily. Just make a paste of water and detergent and scrub vigorously.

The only positive to it is that they used to give a replacement guarantee. Send in the used canister from a self defense situation, and they would send you a replacement. Great for painting a dorm room on the cheap.

[Cosmo Kramer]

a friend of mine had some strong pepper spay and she tried it out once and all of us were coughing like crazy, even thought it wasnt pointed at us. if mace is worse, good lord.

[SCP_Kensei]

There must be something seriously wrong where you live if a 17 year old want's to start carrying around mace.

Trust in your training, or train harder. It's legal AND good for you.

[Britzy]

Yeah didnt expect people to advise me to get some... and dont get me wrong crazy stuff dosent happen often to me just the fact that it could makes me want to get it...probally wont though as valid points have been made....

[Paul Genge]

pepper spray, CS and MACE are section five firearms and therefore illegal in the UK. If caught you will be arrested and put before the courts.

Don't be stupid. If the area you live in is that rough move. If it is not why would you need it?

Paul Genge

[TheCount]

I don't have a link handy, but google should help. There's a company out there that sells a spraycan containing sticky red goo with a long-lasting UV dye. It'll slow down your attacker, possibly impairing their vision, and making them easier to spot by law enforcement. The goo doesn't wash off easily, and the uv dye will show up several days later. It is perfectly legal to carry in the UK.

As an aside, unless you've got the spray in your hand and ready, the odds of being able to effectively use CS, Mace, or red goo squirter are probably quite slim. Especially in an unexpected attack. If you are prone to attacks, change your behavior, best self-defense out there IMHO.

Its called bodyguard spray. It isn't illegal but it isn't anything as potent as CS or Mace.
If you want mace though heh... maybe you wanna move ?

[galorin]

I don't know how effective the red goo is, but it's better than nothing. If Tellner is right, it might get you killed. At least the canister would make for a blunt weapon. Heck you could even stick a lanyard on it and swing it like a maniac. As another stick-a-lanyard-on item, look up bodyguard spray. One place has it near the bottom of this page http://www.securitydirect.co.uk/acatalog/Special_Offers.html

They've also got a piece of body armor there that looks quite nice.. if you're into expensive black quilted vests. The bodyguard spray sounds more like a fart in a can, but at least it won't put you with a bunch of guys waiting for a new girlfriend.

[CosmicFish]

What about the "bouncer spray", on the page quoted above:

"This Spray smells so foul it disables potential attackers, is being used as a new anti-rape device. The Bouncer is an aerosol version of a stink bomb - but ten times stronger. The device also contains an ultraviolet dye which is invisible to the naked eye but can be detected by police up to five days."

I guess if you ever had to use it though you wouldn't get a date for at least a week afterwards!

[tellner]

"This Spray smells so foul it disables potential attackers, is being used as a new anti-rape device. The Bouncer is an aerosol version of a stink bomb - but ten times stronger. The device also contains an ultraviolet dye which is invisible to the naked eye but can be detected by police up to five days."


Ye gods and little fishes. Number two from our self defense class notes under "lame". First, how many cops carry UV lights around with them? Second, homeless women who don't bathe much get raped with appalling frequency. Third, well, I'll let the rest of you take it from there.

[CosmicFish]

Ye gods and little fishes. Number two from our self defense class notes under "lame". First, how many cops carry UV lights around with them? Second, homeless women who don't bathe much get raped with appalling frequency. Third, well, I'll let the rest of you take it from there.
Damn, does my signature need recharging, already?

[oldshadow]

You can try carrying a small can of spray paint. At least if you are caught with it the worst they will most likely think is you are a tager.

[garth]

Blitzy
As pointed out CS gas is in the UK is a class five firearm. As an ex police officer I can tell you you need to be trained and licenced to use this stuff. You do not want the word firearm appearing on your police record even if it is for pepper spray. Also imagine what could happen to you in an arrest situation if you were armed with the stuff. Taser or even real firearms could be deployed. Also what if the spray is taken off you. I have known police officers sprayed with their own spray, and I have even on a couple of occasions using a spray called Parva ended up spraying myself, which is easy to do. What happens if you end up spraying a child or other passer by.

Don't be foolish.

If you are worried about being attacked move, or learn a decent form of self protection.

Gary Arthur
www.toshindo.co.uk

[Britzy]

ok thats what i wanted to know..it counts as a firearm?!?thats screwed and i aint up for getting tazered lol..

[oldshadow]

If you get right down to it the pepper spray is not worth the risk in the UK it seams. Plus it’s not as effective as some people believe it to be. A lot of criminals have learned to minimize the effect here in the US.
I have been sprayed in the course I took. It hurts but you can keep going if you want too, I did. The cops here use it a lot when they are trying to get control of a suspect once they have them down.

[tellner]

If you get right down to it the pepper spray is not worth the risk in the UK it seams. Plus it’s not as effective as some people believe it to be. A lot of criminals have learned to minimize the effect here in the US.
I have been sprayed in the course I took. It hurts but you can keep going if you want too, I did. The cops here use it a lot when they are trying to get control of a suspect once they have them down.

A couple factlets about OC:


The Berkely CA PD did an internal study on OC. They found it hindered almost as much as it helped, and that the officers got it on them about half the time
ASLET now recommends that OC be used on "non-violent non-cooperative suspects", i.e. Bubba don't wanna get in the car but isn't being violent about it
The FTC forced MSI Mace to publicly retract its advertising claiming that OC works against violent attackers
Modern Warrior (http://modernwarrior.com) has done literally thousands of experiments over the years on OC. They've found it simply doesn't work against motivated, goal-oriented people
I've been sprayed with it by accident. It hurt. My eyes watered. It didn't stop me.

[TheCount]

Yes, CS gas/gel has an effective range of approx 5 metres hence it is a firearm