Yesterday’s horrific stabbings on the London-bound train from Doncaster left nine people seriously injured and another hurt. Passengers were trapped in the carriage with nowhere to run and nothing to defend themselves with. In moments like that, people are completely powerless, and it shouldn’t have to be that way.

Women’s safety must come first. Every day in the UK, women travel alone, walk home at night or finish late shifts knowing that violent crime is rising. The Office for National Statistics reports that more than two out of three victims of domestic abuse related crimes are women, and around 85,000 women experience rape or serious sexual assault each year. These numbers aren’t going down. In many of these cases, a simple, legal, non-lethal spray could have bought precious seconds to escape or call for help.

General public safety must come second, because violence isn’t limited to one group. Knife and violent crime have both increased in the last year, and attacks like the one on the train show that danger can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time.

We’re asking the UK Government to let responsible adults legally carry regulated personal defence sprays,  like low strength pepper sprays  under strict rules for sale, age, and use. Other countries already do this safely. We can too.

This isn’t about encouraging violence. It’s about giving people, especially women, a chance to protect themselves when the police can’t be there in time. It’s about helping people feel safe enough to walk their high street at any hour,  to go out, shop locally, meet friends, and bring life back to town centres without fear. When people feel safe and secure, communities thrive.

If you believe everyone has the right to feel safe, please sign and share this petition. Let’s push the government to take real action to make self-defence safe, legal, and responsible.