IN the UK pepper spray is commonly associated with policing and is used for crowd and riot control.
But what are the laws surrounding its use and what is pepper spray made from? Here’s everything you need to know.
Getty Pictured a man holding pepper spray[/caption]
Is pepper spray legal in the UK?
According to the Firearms Act 1968, pepper sprays are classified as prohibited firearms.
Its ownership, carry, and use by common citizens is banned under Section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968.
The law states it is prohibited as a ‘’weapon of whatever description designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing’’.
The classified section 5 weapon is most commonly associated with the police who use what is known as PAVA – a synthetic made pepper spray used as a tactical option by authorities in aggressive situations.
Read More on Pepper Spray
Previously police officers used tear gas, or CS gas, but PAVA is believed to be much more potent.
It is used as a less lethal weapon in policing, riot control, crowd control, and self defence.
The spray is dispensed from a handheld canister and can reach up to four metres – affecting the eyes when sprayed.
Those who come in contact with the spray can experience severe discomfort, pain, and closure.
According to Lincolnshire Police, the effect it has when sprayed can be described as ‘’wet fire’’.
Most Read in News
As it is a prohibited firearm and if you are found in possession of it, it could lead to a prison sentence and/or a fine.
This law effectively means that carrying or using pepper spray in the UK carries the same penalty as carrying or using a gun.
A petition was previously created for the UK Government to make it legal to carry non-lethal self defence weapons.
However, this closed on September 10, 2021, after only receiving 35,617 of the required 100,000 required signatures.
Although civilians in the UK are banned from having pepper spray, it is classed as a self defence weapon in other countries such as Austria, Latvia, and Slovakia.
What is pepper spray made from?
According to various reports, pepper sprays (in addition to CS sprays, mace, etc) contain substances such as oleoresin capsicum (known as OC), desmethyl dihydrocapsaicin (known as PAVA), and 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (known as CS) which cause an irritant effect and are deemed to be noxious by UK law.
Once the spray hits an assailant’s eyes, it can cause severe pain and discomfort.
The inflammatory effects of pepper spray cause the eyes to close, taking away sight, and allowing for police to detain suspects more easily.
In June 2021, the terrifying moment a man could be heard crying and wailing my eyes’’ after being pepper sprayed by cops in the UK was captured.
What are the laws surrounding mace spray and other self-defence laws?
As mentioned above, possession of such products in public and in private in specific circumstances is against the law.
According to West Yorkshire Police, 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.
West Yorkshire Police also state that 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.
There are also other self-defence products that claim to be legal, for example non toxic sprays, however, until a test case is brought before the court, police authorities cannot confirm their legality or endorse them.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
