…to think self defence laws in this country are a bit shit?

[CreativeOriginalUsername]

Prompted by a couple of shitty events over the weekend, but here it is.

I walk my dog, on my own, as a young ish looking woman. I am petite and have very little strength.

Yesterday I encountered an aggressive (off lead) dog who tried to attack my (on lead) puppy. I kicked it in the end to get it off my dog. Male owner became aggressive towards me. Fortunately there were other people around so he walked away in the end.

Today, I was driven at on a country road by a group of (possibly drunk) idiots who thought it would be funny to try and veer me into the bushes. They then threw a bottle of something at a couple further down the lane.

Anyway, it made me realise that there’s fuck all I could do if I was actually attacked. Dark nights are coming which means I’ll be walking my dog in the dark, alone. So I had a look at what you can legally do in the UK in self defence and in short, the answer seems to be fuck all.

Tasers, stun guns and mace type self defence items are completely banned, you can’t even carry them. The police’s helpful advice is to carry a rape alarm - But how much help is that when you’re walking alone down a country lane with nobody about? You cant exactly noise an attacker into submission.

AIBU to think we should have more options available to us than just “make a noise and hope for the best”?

The suggestion I have seen is a Maglight.

Its designed to double up as a Police Officers Night Stick and if you brain a burglar with one in your bedroom you have a very good reason for having it there unlike (say)) a rolling pin.

BUT bear in mind that more US Police Officers are shot by an offender using the officers own gun than any other weapon.

What the law says though is that

You can use 'reasonable' force in self defence, but if that fails then the second string to your bow is that your judgement was clouded by the situation the offender put you in.

So somebody grabs you from behind and you brain them with your Maglight is self defence. If they try and grab your bag but dont threaten you well your judgement was clouded by their behaviour and bashing them with the Maglight was reasonable under the circumstances

Yes but the chances are 5 foot nowt Doris swings this big 4 x D Maglite, misses, the assailant then grabs said Maglite and whacks Doris over the head with it.

I hate saying this but don't walk your dog in the dark evenings

Do the main walk at 6am, all the scrotes are asleep then

And then just a quick walk round the block if urban or in the garden if rural

I agree 110%. I much prefer American Stand Your Ground Laws and the American mentality of defending yourself and your property instead of "oh just give it to them"

Carry a mini can of hairspray. A perfectly normal thing to have in a handbag but stings eyes like crazy.

Go to the gym. Learn some self defense

Yep, I would be worried any weapon would be taken out of my hands and used against me.

I had training at work about how to get out of holds/people grabbing your clothes, it's made me feel better about the risk.

I always carry a perfumed body spray when walking my dogs alone. A squirt in the face of an aggressor might give me time to get sway.

Mini can of deep heat, DIY pepper spray🤭

Ju-jitsu teaches you how to get out of chokeholds, grabholds, avoid punches and how to cope if you get thrown to the ground. Mostly, though, it teaches you how to avoid getting into that situation in the first place. Reactions matter and you can be the best kung-fu master in the world, but if you don't stay calm, you will end up frozen in place or lashing out wildly.

Rape alarms do work - they are designed to cause unexpected pain and disorientation to your attacker, so you can get away. The problem with carrying a weapon is a) having the time and presence of mind to get it out of your pocket or bag and b) making sure your attacker does not use it against you.

When I used to go jogging I used to carry a small screwdriver

I walk my dog ( who wouldn’t do anything apart from bark ) with a bamboo walking stick ( with a metal end ) that I had put on it.

it gives the stick more weight if I have to hit someone with it and it would really hurt 😂 but it’s perfectly legal

I’ve also got a leather loop on the stick that I put my hand through so I won’t drop it or have it taken off me

I also make sure my phone is charged and I have an air tag in my inside pocket of my coat / jacket

I am always aware of my surroundings and I don’t walk and chat on my phone / listen to music

I tend to have 3 -4 walks that I do so I tend to see the same people and I know where I am going I avoid lanes fields quite places unless I know they are going to busy with other people .

I always wear trainers / boots that won’t come off if I have to run not flip flops and slip on shoes

I also obey my instincts - if I don’t feel safe for whatever reason I don’t go against it - don’t give a fuck if I offended someone

Rape alarms.are a good idea. The noise they emit will make an attacker want to get away asap

Carry a heavy walking stick, but only if you are willing and able to use it, because if you hesitate, it will be taken from you.
Taking self defence classes helps you to have the confidence to do this.

Shame they don't make oven cleaner in smaller cans, makes me gasp when I use it for its original purpose.!!

I used to carry a hefty Decent size maglite torch when walking my dog. Perfectly legal item to walk the dog in the dark 👍

Carry a rape alarm, a torch and a whistle. Be careful where you go after dark. Be vigilant about who is around. Don’t wear your hair in a ponytail (if it is long). I have a pen knife in my pocket. Swiss Army knife, nothing offensive, but I reckon I could inflict superficial wounds with it. Enough to let me escape if I was attacked.

Tasers, stun guns and mace type self defence items are completely banned, you can’t even carry them.

Tasers and stun guns can disable and kill and if you could get one, so could an offender.

Mace/pepper spray etc. I've been near it when it's deployed (different country). EVERYONE in the vicinity gets choked. You, the attacker, random bystanders, everyone.

It's better to have fewer weapons. Any more and there are more violent men with them.

If you are a fast runner it is probably the best thing you can do for self-preservation. I’m not a small woman but I’m not big either so 5ft 6, I think depending on the attacker if it was a strong man not many women would have a chance but you do if you can run.

You can use 'reasonable' force in self defence, but if that fails then the second string to your bow is that your judgement was clouded by the situation the offender put you in.

Don’t think of it as ‘failing to be reasonable’ and that your judgement was clouded - the test of ‘reasonable’ is against the circumstances as you see them at the time, not what could be reasonable in hindsight.

Put all of it together rather than thinking of a fallback, if you are in fear during an incident then you as a ‘reasonable person’ in the circumstances of that incident acted as you felt you needed to.