Self Defense - Pepper Spray is Illegal

Unless of course, you've already been attacked.

Yes, you read that right.  Pepper spray is illegal in London.  It is deemed a weapon and held to the same standard as a gun.  Except if you've been attacked you're not allowed to carry a gun.  But you can be allowed to carry pepper spray if:

1. You report your attack to the local authorities
2. You register your pepper spray with said authorities.

Not that London is the most dangerous place in the world but it just seems strange that a major city would outlaw pepper spray.  The logic behind the law is that if pepper spray is legal, then anyone, including criminals, would be able to use it.  Now, I would like to respectfully point out that guns are illegal in this country but that hasn't stopped the criminals from shooting people.

You're probably wondering what your options are if you're a woman who finds herself walking home alone late at night.  Well you can carry a really nice shiny whistle or even perhaps a portable air horn and hope that someone hears your and bothers to help.  Or you can take self defense classes.  Yea, that's pretty much it...