Self defence weapons UK

[AugustL]

What do you do to protect yourself when out, especially in the dark? Is there something you carry? Steps you take to be safe or prepared for an attack? Do you carry an alarm? Would you like weapons for Self defence to be legal in the U.K.. I just mean something like pepper spray, or a taser (not a strong one that could kill). I would. We are not even allowed pepper spray, I wish we were. We are not even allowed to be in possession of anything which we intend to use as a weapon for self defence, even hair spray apparently, or anything next to your bed (like a baseball bat )in case someone breaks into your home. I am left feeling very vulnerable...

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

Thanks for the responses and info. No I'm not doing a piece of journalism, lol. The hair prongs - is it this binged.it/2B6CVEN ? Self defence class - I'm small, 5 ft 2 and not strong. 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. In other instances a man who didn't appear that strong has lifted me above their head one handed, in front of friends and laughed. It's been a laughing matter how they are stronger than me and can control me. Maybe what you're saying is that it's more about tactics than strength, not sure I'd be able to do it, especially in the moment, but maybe it takes continuous practice of tactics until it's second nature.?
My idea with the pepper spray is along the lines of something I can have in my hand to be ready to use that will surprise and temporarily disable the attacker give me chance to escape and some time to run. Pepper spray/cs/PAVA may currently be illegal but there could be campaign to legalise it? Don't know what the chances would be. I find it weird that it's considered a firearm. Someone said pepper spray is indiscriminate - good point if so, I never thought about that. That it and other things being taken and turned on you - I guess that's a risk, but, I don't know, I would feel safer carrying something, non lethal, than having nothing.
Very bright/strobe tactical torch to shine in eyes, very loud alarm, and red dye paint spray are things I'll look to buy, thanks. Any recommendations welcome. This is a red paint spray that stays for a week, doesn't mention that it's an irritant, apart from the irritating factor that when sprayed in the face/eyes they can't see
www.ukpreppersguide.co.uk/legal-pepper-spray-for-self-defence/ The key thing, I could try I suppose.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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.

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.

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.

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

Snork!

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

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.

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

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!

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