Rejected petition: Improve women’s safety by legalising licensed pepper spray
Rejected on
Legalise a tightly regulated, licensed non-lethal defensive spray for self-defence. Adults aged 18+ who pass a criminal-record check should be able to carry an approved capsicum spray under strict product, training and registration rules, with tough penalties for misuse.
Women face widespread violence: ONS data show ~900,000 sexual assaults a year, yet only ~1 in 7 rapes is reported and ~2.8% lead to a charge. A woman may use reasonable force but cannot lawfully carry an effective defence — sprays are prohibited firearms. Alarms rely on bystanders or act too slowly. Most of Europe allows regulated civilian sprays safely. We ask for a licensed scheme: 18+, criminal-record checks, approved products, training and misuse penalties.
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:
Change the law to allow public to carry and use pepper spray for self-defence
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/767270We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.