Q589: Are there any legal self-defence products that I can buy?

Here are some personal safety tips to follow if you are out and about:

• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Be careful when reading or listening to music as this can be distracting.
• In a busy place, try to use your mobile phone in emergencies only as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone. Whilst using your phone you are distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
• Try to avoid walking home alone late at night. If you do, choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone tries to take something from you, it may be better to let them take it rather than getting into a confrontation and risk injury.
• If you are involved in a confrontation, reasonable force may be appropriate when used in self-defence (please see the link in Related Information for further guidance).

Listed below are a few points which will help to ensure you and your belongings are safe:

• Keep bags closed and secure at all times.
• Conceal your wallet or purse in a buttoned or zipped pocket where it doesn't bulge.
• Avoid putting valuables such as phones, wallets or purses in your back pocket.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash with you when shopping.
• Keep pin numbers secure, do not write them down.
• If the fastening of your handbag is on the side, keep the side with the fastening closest to your body and not exposed.
• Rucksack type bags with the opening on the back are not a good place to keep valuables as they are easily opened.
• Keep your purse or wallet at the bottom of your bag.
• Do not carry too many bags of shopping as it makes you vulnerable against pick pockets.
• Do not hang bags on the back of a chair.

Here are some general personal safety tips to follow when you are out and about:

• Do not walk home alone late at night. If you do, choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading or listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to only use your mobile phone in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone, and whilst using it you may be distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
• Carry a personal safety alarm.
• If you are worried or threatened on public transport, contact the guard or the British Transport Police.
• If you are attacked it is often better to shout 'fire' rather than 'help', it tends to attract more attention.

When travelling on public transport, the companies themselves issue a lot of advice particularly in the stations or on the buses and trains themselves. However, it is worth bearing in mind the following general advice when travelling:

• Always sit downstairs on a bus, as near to the driver as possible.
• On a train try not to sit in an empty compartment.
• Make sure you keep hold of all personal belongings.
• If something or someone is bothering you, inform the guard or driver, they can stay with you if you feel uncomfortable 
• Try and have your fare ready so you don't have to get out your purse/wallet.

In relation to general personal safety try and remember the following suggestions:

• Try not to walk alone late at night and where possible choose well-lit main roads and walk confidently.
• If someone does grab your bag fighting back is not always a good idea, you do not know if your attacker has a weapon.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Reading or listening to music can be distracting.
• In a busy public place, try to use your mobile phone only in an emergency as it is advertising the fact that you have a phone. Whilst using your mobile phone you may be distracted, making it easier to take it from you.
• If you are attacked it is often better to shout 'fire' rather than 'help', it tends to attract more attention.

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 that 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, its contents and legality can be verified.

However, accepting there is a lot of concern about street crime, we can try to clarify matters a little by putting forward the following points.

• You must not get a product that is made or adapted to cause a person injury. Possession of such a product in public (and in private in specific circumstances) is against the law.
• There are products that squirt a relatively safe, brightly coloured dye (as opposed to a pepper spray). A properly designed product of this nature, used in the way it is intended, should not be able to cause an injury. However, if an injury does occur, this may be assault.
• Any products bought from abroad have a greater chance of being illegal.

The above advice is given in good faith, you must make your own decision and this website cannot be held responsible for the consequences of the possession, use or misuse of any self-defence product. See Q85 for information on the use of reasonable force.