Rejected petition Petition to Legalize Pepper Spray for Licensed and Approved Females in the UK

We call on the Government to:

Amend the Firearms Act 1968 to permit licensed females to carry pepper spray. Introduce a regulatory framework, including mandatory training, background checks, and renewable licenses, to ensure responsible use.

More details

We urge the Government to legalize pepper spray for self-defense by females aged 18 and over, subject to a strict licensing process, due to rising sexual assaults and strained public services.

We are facing a surge in sexual violence, with women disproportionately affected. Overstretched police forces struggle to ensure public safety, leaving many women feeling vulnerable. Pepper spray, a non-lethal self-defense tool, is banned under Section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.

You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.

You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action:

Legalise pepper spray as a method of self-defence
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/708964

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 23 July 2025
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