Self defence weapons UK

Most ladies here seem to think that robbery is a criminal's only motive. Perhaps you'd best rethink that. There are about 465,000 rapes committed in the UK annually.

80% of which are committed by a man already known to the victim, and over half of the rest are committed by unlicensed minicab drivers against their fares. Stranger rape outwith a taxi is relatively rare. Statistically, you are safer walking home at 2am than getting a cab or a lift from a male friend. If you actually cared about women avoiding rape, you'd recommend that we get men out of our lives as much as possible.

Did you know that every case of genocide in history began with disarming the victims?

1. We are talking about gynocide, not genocide. Gynocide has been going on for millennia, long before modern weapons were dreamed of, let alone taken away from us. 2) How do you arm women without also arming men? 3) Bearing in mind that pepper spray is classified legally as a Section Five firearm, how do you propose that women convicted of possession of pepper spray defend themselves from rape by prison wardens and penis-retaining transwomen whilst in jail?

Just catching up and I'm like you OP, 5ft1 and I have also been thrown over a shoulder and carried off a number of times, all on the name of jest and of course I thought it was hilarious

This has also been on my mind as I know a bit of self defence and am currently taking boxing classes to improve fitness and reaction times. I do the wolverine key thing, never wear heels, I'm pretty fast on my feet but I couldn't be confident of outrunning a man.

I don't have many opportunity to feel scared as I don't go out but every time I do and I get home late and walk from the station, I feel on my guard at the very least. I've been followed home numerous times and once was attacked by three teenagers. I nutted the one in the face, the one who pushed me up against a tree and ran as far as I could. I was 26. I didn't report it as it was dark and I was talking the shortcut home so I knew I would be blamed and tutted at by the police.

I'm going to get a pepper spray, it feels like an upgrade of the perfume I carry around with me.

Not smart to carry a weapon unless you are trained in it as it's more likely to be used against you. My last ditch plan if attacked (run away is first plan - I always wear trainers) is to punch the throat. Carrying a rape alarm is a good idea.

Interesting. Most ladies here seem to think that robbery is a criminal's only motive. Perhaps you'd best rethink that. There are about 465,000 rapes committed in the UK annually. General beatings? If he gets your identification, he knows 1) where you live, and 2) you won't put up much of a fight the next time you meet.

Did you know that every case of genocide in history began with disarming the victims?

The below video shows that a martial artist with 30 years experience will not be able to defend against a trained and experienced knife attacker. Some of the injuries sustained in the video could be life threatening

It is always worth training and acquiring skills, however imagining that you will always be able to fight off an attacker is an unrealistic perspective.

I know several elderly highy experienced martial aritsts and all will avoid any kind of street fight, especially against a knife attack.

For most or all martial artists it can boil down to accepting that you will sustain injuries but trying to avoid injuries that are life threatening.

Where I live right now lots of frightened kids carry knives. Some carry tazers.

My advice would be train hard in armed and unarmed fighting skills, be polite to people on the street, including kids, don't talk back to people who are aggressive / paranoid and try to stay safe by making sensible decisions about footwear and avoiding dangerous situations.

It is much easier to walk away from a disrespectful bully / crazy person if you know you can fight back, but avoid any kind of confrontation if you can.

And what bd67th said basically.

For @velveteenfruitbowl and anyone else thinking they can carry a knife:

www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
"It's illegal to:
carry a knife in public without good reason, unless it has a folding blade with a cutting edge 3 inches long or less"

Self-defence is not deemed a good reason.

Sure, put pointy sticks in your bun to stop an attacker from grabbing it, but don't carry a knife. You'll be arrested if you try to use it.

I worked in a dodgy place in a country where bear spray (essentially pepper spray) can be carried. Twice the dodgy people used it on each other with staff around. It is indiscriminate. Everyone, including the nearby staff, was very badly affected.

I carried it for a while after being threatened and the police wouldn't do anything. Based on the idea that everyone involved would be incapacitated. Me and the assailant. It's really nasty stuff.

I also keep my keys sticking out of my fingers when walking alone once dark.

Keys in one hand in my pocket, sharp pencil in the other hand also in my pocket. Saw it on Rocknrolla and thought it wasn't a bad idea!

For any woman who is even considering using any pointy / bladed item for self defence - do not even think about this until you have trained for some time in how to use a weapon properly.

Be aware that lots of dangerous people train all day long with knives, often after buuying instructional DVDs

If you carry a bladed weapon and are attacked by a person with a knife it could be someone with skills.

Do not even think about defending yourself with a knife if you have not trained hard and acquired skills.

If you want to experiement with learning skills you can buy training (wooden and plastic) knives on ebay / amazon, there are plenty of free instruction videos on youtube (although of varying quality)

Play around with a friend, if you like it look for a friendly group to train with

OP I have a super loud alarm...I originally planned to buy two but it's too easy to activate by accident.

It is astonishingly loud so I keep it in the flat, if I used it then the whole building would be alerted to the noise. But I'm not sure what you can carry.

When I used to work in nightclubs and was often coming home after dark I was taught a trick where you have your bunch of keys in your hand, but put the actual keys between your fingers. They should stick out like wolverine claws. That way if you're grabbed you can punch/ swipe and hopefully do enough damage to deter a would be attacker. Useless if they are taken from you though so no worries about them being used against you. I always do this in my pocket when walking alone so I'm ready.

Have you experimented with this? Just asking as I have (not in a real fight - with a compliant friend and a pad) and it is very hard to keep the keys in place as you strike and there is a very real chance of injuring the delicate skin between your fingers.

There are various items that women carry on them that can be used as weapons, however, as someone who has trained in using weapons and disarming weapons I would strongly advise any woman against using weapons.

Unless you are extremely skilled you are at extremely high risk of injuring yourself with your weapon or, if you have a go at your attacker and they are trained they will get your weapon off you and use it against you.

When I used to work in nightclubs and was often coming home after dark I was taught a trick where you have your bunch of keys in your hand, but put the actual keys between your fingers. They should stick out like wolverine claws. That way if you're grabbed you can punch/ swipe and hopefully do enough damage to deter a would be attacker. Useless if they are taken from you though so no worries about them being used against you. I always do this in my pocket when walking alone so I'm ready. Also have 999 ready to dial on my mobile.

beta.northumbria.police.uk/advice-and-info/

This is a pretty good resource for anyone who would like advice on how to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of crime.

Another vote for trainers to run in, a friend to walk with and a well-lit path with plenty of CCTV. We have more of it than anywhere.

We are an unarmed society and much safer for that.

A robber wants your phone and money etc. You might want to give it to them.

And all the guns in the world aren't going to protect you from the vanishingly small prospect of a Levi Bellfield whose M.O. is to creep up on you from behind. It is not the Wild West. Violent criminals do not stand in front of you and demand that you "draw."

I have a spray, it's called Red Stoppa and dispenses red dye at high velocity. It is described as 'mildly irritant' but I think the idea is more the shock factor of the sudden spray/momentary blindness giving you time to escape and making the attacker easier for police to identify because their face is covered in red dye. No idea how effective it is in practice but it's legal and makes me feel a bit safer.

UK police officer here - both CS/pava (pepper spray) and taser are firearms and illegal to possess in UK.

Please do not buy these!

Are you writing a piece of journalism, op?

I would very strongly advise anyone considering carrying an item specifically for self-defence to do their own, very careful research on the legalities first.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/judge-brands-county-durham-dad-7623053.amp

This bloke got three years in prison for bringing flick knives etc in. This was reduced from a usual five year minimum because the judge - and everyone else in the case - was absolutely convinced that he was just really really stupid, and not planning on using the stuff. Three years.

You can get a tactical torch which is extremely bright with strobe mode. Google the subject

You're better off running than trying to stand and fight. Rather than carry a weapon, just make sure you're wearing sensible shoes - it'll stand you in much better stead.

At what point does a disparity in strength allow a victim to use a weapon?

That is a legal question that depends on circumstances and doesn't have a simple answer.

More jmportantly a stronger person is more able to disarm you and use your weapon against you. This is why we have a mini baseball bat lurking in a cupboard. My partner took it off a lad who attacked him with it. And the disparity in strength between grown men and 15 year old boys is not as great as that between grown men and women.

I am strongly against encouraging the carrying of weapons.

From what I read its illegal to be in possession of it

Maybe, you can buy it though.

@bd67th so lo has your rapist has pulled a knife on you and you stab him with something you are carrying legally it’s not going to be an issue. The real issue is where you have very strong attackers in question. At what point does a disparity in strength allow a victim to use a weapon?