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Distract with a discharge of bear spray to their face.
You may be surprised to learn that pepper spray or varieties thereof are classified as firearms in the UK under section 5 of the 1968 act and possession of such has a sentence of upto 10 years.
That's crazy! You can buy pepper or bear spray over the counter here. No special anything required. 10 years for a non lethal form of self defense that causes no permanent harm seems ridiculously excessive.
Edit: you guys can't carry pocket knives either. Right?
You can carry a folding blade if its 3" or less. Anything else must have a reasonable explanation e.g. I am chef commuting to work.
Oh, at least that's a reasonable regulation for the knives. I had heard that no pocket knives were allowed. What's the justification for the pepper spray?
A knife has a utility beyond inflicting harm on others, pepper sprays have only that use.
Pepper spray is useful for self defense though, and doesn't cause any permanent harm. Is punching someone who is robbing you also illegal?
Deaths from asphyxiation related to pepper spray. Are far from unknown. And while odds are other health conditions are involved in most past cases. Those deaths are why it has been banned here.
We are def what the US would call a nanny state. But most are fine with this to the greater extent.
And self defence in the UK stops at the idea of going prepared. UK laws do not allow anything that is intended as a weapon to be carried. So no punching someone in the process of robbing you is fine. Only if you feel at threat of physical harm. If you are a 6ft muscled man and cought an 80yo tiny pick pocket taking your wallet. And punched him. The police would arrest you both. In fact in most situations where you attacked someone robbing you. You should expect to have to show you felt at threat. Not uncommonly in court. Depending on the result of your attack.
Punching someone with a knuckle duster would mean your were preparing for a fight when you decided to take it with you. So illegal. And attacking someone running away after robbing you would be a crime.
You're right, that does sound like a nanny State to me. But I don't live there, so I haven't had a lifetime to become accustomed to their rules. Thanks for the explanation.
Discombobulate