Like most women in the UK, I have experienced sexual harassment and assault. November 2nd was the most recent incident. It was 7pm and I was travelling to work via the tube. It doesn't matter whether its 1am or 1pm - women are being harassed and assaulted travelling via tube, bus, taxis or walking. We have lived for years taking precautions such as rape alarms and carrying criminal identifier sprays, however, when it comes to being assaulted I can confirm in my incident that non of these non-lethal options protected me. 

Sexual harassment on TFL is currently up by 63% after the pandemic in a recent report from BBC, more and more women have gained the confidence to report the crimes happening to them, however nothing is place to protect women from enduring the assaults in the first place.

Therefore, the purpose of this petition is to legalise pepper spray for the protection of women and men, ultimately reducing the risk of assault. Pepper spray is a widely recognised non-lethal deterrent that can be used for self-defence. Currently, pepper spray in the UK carries the same legal penalties as carrying a gun does. Whereas in other countries such as Italy, America, Spain, Russia and others it is legal. 

The last petition I signed was rejected due to the notion that the assaulter could also use pepper spray as a weapon against a victim. 

However, I am asking the Government to reconsider this petition with the idea that pepper spray could be sold by Government approved/licensed sellers; and to purchase pepper spray you must provide identification. That pepper spray has a serial number that is linked to the individuals record of purchase and ID. 

Firearms can be purchased and registered to a person so a non-lethal deterrent could easily have the same system. 

I believe this is a safe way to distribute pepper spray and hold people accountable for using it in non defence situations. I don't believe many criminals would ever provide identification to purchase pepper spray where as a recent poll of 715K followers, (90% of those women) 91% voted that they would happily provide identification to purchase pepper spray to carry in a situation they would need to protect themselves. 

Not only would it make women feel safer but I believe harassment and assaults would dramatically reduce due to the fear that the perpetrator could have pepper spray used against them. 

I kindly ask Parliament to reconsider legalising pepper spray, especially that at 4pm it is dark in the UK. Many women would feel much safer travelling with this.