Self defence weapons UK

by these I mean Farb gel spray so it would cause someone to stop and give you time to run away but it then stains their face for a week so the police can track them.

I saw that article. Aren't they now putting warnings on the websites selling those tools?

Years ago a man I knew, a chef, told me the Police arrested him, held him for several hours before letting him go in the wee small hours for having his chef knives with him on his way home from work. They were expensive knives, he had his name engraved on them. The details, due to time, are fuzzy and probably were spun.

If the coppers are going to do me for my snips, I'll ask them to take my nailclippers, nail file, nail scissors and nails into consideration. All of which I might carry with me and use in public. My nails are currently longer and sharper than my snips. Also better for deadheading.

Sigh, just noticed it's a zombie thread.

This. I definitely wouldn't feel "safer" knowing that people could be carrying weapons on them.

You might get arrested though on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon, like the gardener in Manchester with his Japanese garden sickle!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx27w9wp4e6o

(Other news sources are available)

Zombie thread but...

I bought this to carry in my pocket so I could deadhead flowers as I noticed them. Without running the risk of stabbing my leg. Tbh it's rubbish except for quite slender stems.

However, I realised I can open it one handed and it might provide some protection, stabbing a hand, face or neck if someone grabbed me.

Hi. I have been looking at these on ebay and although the ebay seller says it is legal, how do you know it is?

OLD THREAD.

But the golden rule is to have something that you could be carrying legitimately anyway. Big torches have been mentioned before: umbrellas are another. And never listen to the tripe about all men are safe, not all men are like that. We all know damned well that far too many are dangerous.

OP, self defence training is still valid and useful even if you're tiny. Some of the training I got is still very helpful in reading my surroundings, and other stuff (like a thing on how to get out of a headlock) allowed me to floor my much bigger and stronger brother. The goal of these courses should be to train you to act quickly and effectively so that you can get away.

AutumnRose1 seemed to be in to something with the ultra-loud alarm. Gets the attention of everyone in the area, makes it more likely the attacker will freeze / run off and also can't be used against the holder.

I'll take illegal pepper spray and the consequences of having it...

The consequences, if caught, are up to ten years in prison.

Its not exactly self defence but I travel by bicycle most places on the roads which makes me much less likely to be attacked. Tbf probably not much safer what with cars! Again not exactly self defence but dont travel listening to music because studied show predators target those who look less alert/switched onto their surroundings

Zombie thread.

But just to reiterate - TRAIN in a martial art. Regularly, not just take a two hours a week for 6 weeks type of self-defense course, it'll be next to useless if you go into freeze response if you actually get attacked for real. There is no weapon and no substitute for training with other people regularly. When lockdown is over of course!

Oh, and I wear flat shoes but that's just because I do, rather than as a safety strategy.

No, I don't carry anything. I live in a large UK city and walk home after an evening out at all times of night. I'm vigilant about my surroundings and don't wear my head phones if it's late.

I'm not the nervous type. I've been doing it years and I've never had a problem. It would make me sad to think that I couldn't walk in and around the city without having to carry something to protect me.

Having said all that, I do completely understand women's fears when out at night.

Agree with others who have said that the best "weapon" is shoes that you can run in.

... She didn't whittle bits off him..

Snork!

Pepper spray/cs/PAVA may currently be illegal but there could be campaign to legalise it?

I wouldn't advocate pepper spray being legalised. It seems like its availability would be of more use to a would-be attacker than for defence. For self defence, it's just as likely to backfire (due to wind, ect.) while, for offence, the attacker can set up their attack to only incapacitate the victim.

The biggest thing that a lot of women get out of self defense classes or martial arts classes is feeling OK about using physical force when needed. It runs counter to female socialization in all kinds of ways to do so, so for a lot of women it takes a supportive environment in which you're actually encouraged to hit back to give themselves permission to do so, plus it can really help with overcoming the freeze response.

And yes, I also went through a training done by a policeman and he said the same thing - never comply. If the attacker tells you he won't hurt you if you (do whatever), he's lying. Yes, they might hurt you there and then, but they will hurt you a lot worse if they're able to get you to wherever they're trying to take you. So fight back even if you don't think you can win.

Find your local Brazilian jujitsu or muay thai school and train your arse off.

Failing that, get a 1000+ lumen tactical torch with an raised attack crown and a good pair of running shoes.

I did self defence classes with an ex cop at school, by far the main thrust of it was analysing the situation, remaining visible, not having to turn your back/fumble in your bag for keys etc. He mentioned the long hair/ponytail thing and advised that if ever grabbed by the hair, instead of instinctively pulling away like they’d expect you to, try to turn rapidly and push hard towards them which will unsettle/surprise them.

He also said that on the balance of evidence, fighting is better for your chance of survival than compliance, the worst offenders have no conscience so trying to go along with it/persuading them to let you go will not work.

I have an alarm on my keys and when I used to lone work late at night I used to keep a powerful body spray easy to grab in my bag to squirt in the eyes. Aerosol sun cream is another one. I keep a mag light torch in the bedroom (super heavy and legitimate to be there for power cuts)

A krav maga class would be a better investment than a weapon, honestly.

Something not mentioned here is to never wear headphones when out walking alone. It is often mentioned by attackers as the reason they chose their victim.

I'll take illegal pepper spray and the consequences of having it over being attacked and left for dead in an alley any day. The fact it comes down to that choice, however, is ridiculous.

I'll uphold every other law to the letter, but when it comes to my life, there is no law to protect that, so I'll do it myself, thanks. I know the world we live in and 80% of people are horrific.

But hey, give me a better option that the law supports other than "run", "scream" and "do some self-defense", and I'll get on board. Interested what the law recommends for those who are disabled.

In past experiences men (and I'm not talking big muscled men) have been able to physically control me very easily and laugh that I couldn't escape them.

And my experience is that women can hurt men. I've done a few years of martial arts and more years of having male friends and a male sibling. And getting out of holds, and escaping being held is something a relatively weak woman can do if she's willing to bite and scream and really hurt the other person.

In an emergency that isn't realistic. I'm trying to socialize my child to not roll over but also understand that it isn't something women can be expected to do. Because if every woman learned to fight, men would just find a way to still overpower then. The most we can do is teach our daughters to be a less attractive target. And how fucking awful.