Rejected petition Allow law abiding citizens to carry regulated, non lethal self defence items

We want the Government to review and update self defence laws to allow law abiding citizens to carry non lethal self defence items, such as pepper spray or personal taser with incapacitant features, under strict regulation. This would help people feel safer and better protected in public spaces.

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Following the horrific knife attack aboard the LNER train on Saturday 1st November 2025, it is clear that ordinary people can find themselves defenceless in the face of violence.
Current UK law prohibits carrying any item intended for self defence. Citizens may only use objects that ‘come to hand’ during an attack, leaving them unprepared and vulnerable.
Many European countries, allow regulated possession of non lethal self defence tools such as pepper spray or taser.

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 in England: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742673

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

Date submitted 2 November 2025
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