To think that the law needs changing about right to protect yourself.

[NumbFeeling]

Things are getting out of hand in the country, and the level of violence and sexual assaults is out of control.

AIBU to think that the law needs changing about how we can defend ourselves? For example, if we were allowed to carry pepper sprays someone may have been able to stop further stabbings last night.

I’m not talking about carrying weapons, I’m talking about something that would immobile a killer, which doesn’t maim them. I don’t understand why they aren’t legal TBH.

Police arrive after an attack. Incidents aren’t being prevented, so at the time it’s you against an armed person, and you have no chance.

Things are out of control now, and I think we need to be able to at least have a chance.

AIBU to say we should be allowed to carry pepper sprays or similar?

I don’t know what we can realistically do. Stab vests!?

I made sure my girls took Krav Maga courses from a female trainer who’d served with the forces and a retired cop. They did explain how to use a rucksack to defend yourself against a knife, but much of the sessions concentrated on not getting in risky situations in the first place and getting away - difficult in an enclosed space.

I’ve seen Facebook posts saying the same thing. Men talking about arming themselves now incase they are attacked or need to prevent a violent mass attack. Honestly I rolled my eyes at the time, but then pondered about having a small deodorant spray in my handbag so maybe it’s not all hyperbole. People feel less safe and that’s not good.

This is what I was trying to say, put better.

Hysteria helps noone.

Who would pay for that? Police routinely on every train would only make sense if stabbings on trains were an every day occurrence.

Maybe listen to the rail workers who have been fighting proposals to do away with guards on trains.

I agree
DD does Taekwando and her instructor says always try and escape but if you can't hit hard once and run.

Yes I agree. You can feel pretty frozen and in no way able to grab or use something.

Well I agree that many police officers are misogynistic and racist, I also think most of them are very brave and I am grateful they are willing to do the job as someone has to. I can think both things you know. A lot of people do.

So yes we need more police. We need to both pay them better and treat them better but also hold them to a higher standard than an averge person. As a payback for being held to a high standard of behaviour they should be treated with respect and paid well

If they consistently fall short of that standard of behaviour they should face the appropriate consequences.

I appreciate that this is cloud cuckoo land at the moment but it is what I see as the ideal to aim for.

Although I do understand the horror of this situation where there was not much that could be done against someone with a knife.

And other horrendous events come to mind.

Hard to know what’s best because people do want to feel safe.

I remember years ago being on a train and a man in the carriage got assaulted, this was one of the old slam door trains so it was one of the ones with individual compartments. Pepper spray wouldn't have been any bloody use.

Several times fights have broken out on trains.

Guards need to be going up and down more, maybe even BTP on trains.

However what really needs doing is looking at why so many mentally unwell people are walking the streets like this guy was.

Ha ha Men??

People were trampled in the panic to escape the knife man, one can imagine it was mainly male passengers doing the trampling over women, children and the elderly.

Yep. Some bloke I was conversing with said he was thinking about arming himself with a gun, a knife or a taser. He said all of this on a police Facebook site so he wasn’t very bright and will probably get a visit from a PCSO today 🤦🏻‍♀️

I don't feel less safe, things are not out of control

If we want saints in uniform, we have to pay for them.

Anything that can be used as a weapon for self-defence can also be used as an offensive weapon. Whatever you think should be legal to carry, how do you propose to ensure that only good people carry such things and not the bad people too? Besides, unless you have regular training, not just in using your weapon, but in how to respond effectively in a high-stress crisis situation, chances are you will just freeze up anyway.

What nonsense.
Do you want a police officer in every carriage? How about 3?
8 seconds?

The police responded and had the situation under control within 8 minutes! Thats incredible

Ive been attacked before and almost a second time attempted mugging. Second time round I was already hyper aware of my surroundings. I dont listen to music when im out, keep my phone in my pocket, check who's out of my line of sight when walking, look for points of rscape/help. It shouldn't be like that but in my area its quite bad, mostly occurs in the city centre. Its been bad for a while though, and probably won't change.

Where do you live? Do you ever have to catch a train late at night alone?

I caught a train last month in a major city it was 8pm so not that late. I had to walk through the city to get to another form of transport. I saw about 15 hooded men with masks on all in black racing through on bikes. It was incredibly intimidating. I have also seen men openly carrying knives...so yes it does not feel safe atm.

I think the OP is talking total bollocks but likewise just stating overall violent crime is down is completely meaningless. What’s needed is a breakdown of the types of violent crime - what’s up, what’s down, where, how? Just cobbling together “violent crime” and pretending it’s a declining problem doesn’t really help get to the bottom of things.

Totally agree OP. Fortunately I live in a city that is still safe but I am aware that it probably won't stay like this. I actively avoid certain cities in the UK. I didn't feel like this when I was young - 30 years ago. It is so sad what has happened to this country.

Crime is not down. Where on earth did you hear that? I think lots of crime goes unreported.

I'm surprised so many people still walk around with their headphones in, looking at their phones - totally oblivious to what is going on around them. Happens so often that people just walk onto the road without checking for cars.

I have been the victim of crime but that is a rare occurence, i do not live my life in the shadow of fear

Sorry but that is odd. How bad does it have to get before you are allowed to say I am fearful of the level of crime? It is not a weakness to want to be able to live in a country with safe streets or would you be OK to live in a country like SA where safety is never an option?

I carry pepper spray when I walk the dog at night. If I ever get attacked, I would happily use it.

There is no chance that CPS would charge me after being attacked by a man and then using pepper spray. And in the remote chance that CPS would prosecute me, I would serve no jail time. Worth the risk in my opinion.

Carry the pepper spray.

YANBU. Not remotely.

Unfortunately with liberalism and overuse of human rights on people who waived such rights the moment they acted inhuman, even if we do attempt to protect ourselves, we'll be charged with something anyway. Also with self-defence skills, the law will not side with you in the majority of cases, especially if the attacker is not English. "Oh he was having a sexual emergency." or "He wasn't aware that it wasn't part our culture and sensibilities.".

If coming from the self-defence angle, the use of force needs to be proportionate, but that can be twisted every which way in court. The mental health card will be pulled and you'll be considered the unreasonable and mean person. But it is all we really have until any meaningful change in the law is made.