and possibly unlawful with this plan?

[ErsonOfPinterest]

long story short (and n/ced as worried about outing myself)
There's been a series of sex attacks in our area, not word of mouth, police have been knocking on doors warning people. Daytime attacks on people at bus stops. The one where my DD gets the bus. And attacks in the area she does her paperround. The man is quite identifiable so should be easy to spot if he appears. we have been told to dial 999 if we see him.
I want DDto be able to protect herself and her friend that shes always with. I am thinking of getting her a mini spray deodorant to keep in her blazer pocket to spray in an attackers eyes if necessary.
Is this a bad move? Obviously I don't want to advice her to do anything illegal, but want to have a chance in the event of the unthinkable.

In fact Pepper sprays are classed as firearms for import purposes:

www.gov.uk/import-controls-on-offensive-weapons

Hopefully your daughter will never need it but this was advice given by the police when there was a series of attacks near my school as a teenager.

Do not try to use a weapon unless you know how to use it and stop it being taken off you.

If you yell 'Police'or 'Call 999' people are far more likely to respond then if you scream 'help' or 'rape', especially from a teenager, everyone's heard gangs of school kids shouting at bus stops and tend to ignore the odd loud word. Draw attention any way you can, scream like a mad woman if needs be but keep screaming until someone comes to help.

If there are people around look directly at 1 person whilst asking for help, and say something like 'this man is attacking me, please call the police' there's a theory that in crowded places everyone leaves it to someone else so no one ends up helping.

"SING". Solar Plexus-Instep-Nose-Groin, Elbow them in the solar plexus, stomp/jump on their foot, hit upwards with your palm into their nose hard, finish with a knee to the groin and run, preferably into a shop/library/doctors/anywhere that there will be people.

I carry pepper spray, but it's legal here. We were also told to put 3 heavy keys on a key ring and carry them with 1 key between each fisted finger, like spikes. And aim for the eyes.

What a frightening world we live in, no matter where we're living!

I used to carry pepper spray to and from my car when I worked nights in a pretty nasty homeless shelter. Legal here. DH got it and they know why people have them. He asked for bear spray (which is why it is legal here) or dog spray and the guy showed him a massive one. DH said "DW works at [shelter name]" and the guy said, "oh, two legged dogs" and gave him a handbag sized one.

I did a self defense course run by a Police Officer in the UK and he told us to carry whatever looked legit while being offensive. Metal nit comb, hairspray, whatever works.

Good advice from Danann. I taught my girls to 'SING', but they need to practise it. Preferably with someone bigger than them. The other thing I would suggest is discuss with your daughter the importance of being aware of what is going on around her. Look ahead, behind, be aware of who's about. When she's with a friend it's all too easy to start chatting and forget.

I taught my girls to carry their keys as described above and aim for the eyes. Didn't know about SING but also encouraged them to kick high and run.
The convenience of keys is their security, you naturally have them close to hand. When at uni we were given rape alarms but they were always lost at the bottom of your bag-no help at all really.

YY to keys and surely all teenage girls have cans of Impulse or whatever

I heard once that you should shout "fire". Reason being people take more notice if they think it will affect them. Not sure if it works though

YY to the keys thing - we were also told to shout "fire" or "call 999" rather than a scream

My dad taught me to walk home at night with a key from my bunch between each finger of my clenched fist IYSWIM.

He told me to punch and run.

Compass. In the eyeball.

The stabby maths kind.

Not the one in bear grills' pocket.

Just cut and pasted this from Suffolk police...I always carried keys and police told me when a teen to shout fire.

"Question
Are there any legal self defence products that I can buy?

Answer
The only fully legal self defence product at the moment is a rape alarm. These are not expensive and can be bought from most local police stations or supermarkets.

There are other self defence products which claim to be legal (e.g. non toxic sprays), however, until a test case is brought before the court, we cannot confirm their legality or endorse them. If you purchase one you must be aware that if you are stopped by the police and have it in your possession there is always a possibility that you will be arrested and detained until the product, it's contents and legality can be verified."

I have a friend who carries a knife in her bag. Not a penknife, a full on serrated hunting-style knife. She was attacked before, and would rather be arrested for carrying a knife than go through being raped again.

Just as I would sooner club an intruder to death than wait and find out whether he intends to murder me, rape me or simply wants my laptop.

Unfortunately as women we sometimes have to consider whether 'not fully legal' is as important as the feeling that we may have a chance of surviving if suddenly attacked.

The problem with pepper spray is, that in a stress situation she might end up incapacitating herself with it.

it wouldnt be illegal if you gave her spary deoderant, this would be self defence and its an every day item you would have if she just happened to use it she wouldnt get into trouble, if you're worried, its a good idea to put your mind at rest.

I was attacked once when i was a teenager. I couldnt scream, just couldnt get my voice to work. Couldnt make a sound. Thank goodness my lovely old dog knew i was in trouble and came running. Still get emotional when i think about how he turned from the most gentle dog ever into something like wolverine because he wanted to help me. Tell your dd to take care op.

I think it would make you feel better. I honestly don't think it would do her any good if, god forbid, she was attacked. I also don't believe you should ever carry a weapon that can be used against you if you're up against someone bigger and stronger than you.

I think a self defence course would be a better idea, go on it with her and practice, practice, practice - it's all about the reflexes.

Keep reinforcing the messages about not being alone - teenagers get complacent very quickly.

Get both girls an attack alarm

The trouble with weapons, even makeshift ones, is that they can be taken away and used against you by your attacker.

By the time she's gone into her pocket or bag and found the spray and taken the lid off and turned it the right way around to spray her attacker with he could already have hold of her.

Pulling the pin out of an attack alarm is quicker, it's loud and an attacker will probably run immediately rather than wait and see if anyone's about to hear it or not.

gator I can understand your friend's friend's impulse, but is it really any good? If god forbid she was attacked, would she really have the time, composure and opportunity to open her bag, find the knife get it out and stab her attacker? If miracle of miracles she did, a likely scenario is that it could be used used against her.

I understand it is reassuring, but may actually be more dangerous to her.

I'd go with the keys. Have only once felt threatened, and had my keys in my fist with the spikes out. Keys normally sit in my pocket anyway.

I didn't realize the UK had such strict laws against self defense weapons like pepper spray. I'm not trying to incite a debate on weapons/items used as self defense. But as far as carrying something that 'could' be construed as a weapon I will quote my DH: "I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6". You do what you feel necessary to keep yourself safe, whether it's taking a taxi instead of walking home or carrying illegal pepper spray. Just my opinion.

Yabu. That could be considered to be premeditated, therefore assault and not self defense.

Teach her to carry her house keys in her closed fist so they stick out in between her closed fingers instead. Everyone carries house keys and there are no special rules shoot how one holds them. Sprays on the other hand are unlikely to be close to hand unless preplanned.

Hope this man is caught before anyone else is attacked and completely understand your worry.

*about not shoot

Teach her the basic principles, elbows are strong, if you can use them do use them, the nose is a vunerable part as is the private parts, don't slap him, kick punch, elbow and hard, don't be scared to hurt him and scream as loud as you can

surely someone grabs you and you elbow or kick them in the nuts that's not your fault that's a normal reaction, the eyes as well, poke punch, the nose, anything to shock him.

And tell her if she sees him in the distance, to walk the other way to the nearest safe place possible and phone the police or tell the shop assistant what has happened

I have a thing called trident personal attack alarm which is v small
It says "emits 130 decibel blast, sprays repulsive odour and emits cloud of uv invisible identifier"