Are defense non-lethal gun allowed in UK ?

Question

I'm French and recently moved to London, in an area where crime rate is high.
In France everybody can buy some non lethal gun (the kind that looks like a real gun, and will knock out a person without killing) to defend oneself at home.
It is a good deterrent and as my girlfriend is often home alone and the area isn’t safe I would like that she have one to keep burglars in respect while waiting for the police.

I'm talking of those guns that shock only, and not to carry, only to keep home, of course.

These guns can't kill just impress and seriously shock someone.

These gun do not knock out by electric charge but by simple ckock: Its a bit like a conventional gun, looking like a Colt Python but the ammunitions can't be replaced and do not penetrate the body.
So it's easy to use, and the effect is somehow similar to this of a big stick but you can shoot at a few meters somebody.

Anyway, as the ammu do not penetrate the body but kind of melt when there is a contact you can't kill somebody.

they are for sale in many shops in France.

For instance

http://www.securityshop.fr/product_info.php?cPath=42_54&products_id=78&osCsid=7ec340d08c5f9e5ad654fca10e40af98

Answer 1

No person in the United Kingdom has permission to carry weapons on their body for the purposes of self-defence. Such weapons will be deemed to be 'offensive weapons', which is a criminal offence. s. 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 prohibits the possession in any public place of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or excuse.

An offensive weapon has been defined as being any item "made or adapted for use to causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use.". This was defined in the case of R v. Simpson where Lord Lane CJ (Chief Justice) stated that there were 3 basic categories of weapons, weapons made for injuring a person, those that were modified and adapted for the purpose of causing injury to other persons and finally items carried with the intent of causing another injury.

The Crown Prosecution Service does not need to prove to the court that you had any intention of using it offensively and purely defensively. It is a strict liability offence.

If you do not have lawful authority to carry an offensive weapon, which in the United Kingdom is physically impossible (The only persons with lawful authority are police officers, prison officers and other such persons proscribed by law to carry them), then you could be liable to a penalty of imprisonment and or a fine (so both prison and a fine).

Offensive weapons are but notwithstanding:

- Tasers or other weapons administering an electric shock
- Extendable batons
- Knuckledusters
- Nunchucks
- Swords or knives

Imitation firearms is also an offence and can be treated the same as real firearms under certain circumstances.

However, most of these apply to these weapons being carried in public. Within your own home, these can be a bit of a grey area in the law. You can still be charged and prosecuted for various offences.

Possession of a firearm, is an offence regardless of whether or not it is in your home or in a public place unless you have a Firearms Certificate authorised by the Chief Constable or in your case, the Commissioner of the Police.

My advice is that there are plenty of articles within your own home that you can use to defend yourself with. Don't leave yourself open to criminal prosecution for having one that was made with the intent of harming another person. It is not worth the bother or trouble.

The only deterrent's you need are the kitchen knives you have in your home and any other blunt instrument that you have lying in your house that you can use to fight off a person trying to burgle your house or do you harm.

Police response times to burglaries and crimes of violence is very good in the UK and response times are very fast. If you use a weapon such as you are describing, in all liklihood, however much they may sympathise with your position, they will have no alternative but to arrest you. British law is quite strict on offensive weapons.

Answer 2

Dont know what kind of a gun you are talking about but if is a weaon that causes people to be knocked out by a electric charge it obviousl is an offensive weapon and poss. if barrelled could be a section 1,firearm under the firearms act.need more info but it sounds has if definately illegal in public place and if mu suspicions are correct as to type of weapon also illegal to possess anywhere in UK,

Answer 3

No - the rules about imitation and real firearms are the same. You can receive the same jail sentense for possessing an imitation gun as you can for posessing a real one.

If you're concerned about possible crime in the area contact your local Police Station, they'll have Community Officers and Crime Prevention Officers who can give you advice.

Answer 4

Yes. On duty, off duty, out of uniform and retired armed forces members should be allowed to carry concealed guns for their own safety and safety of others.. The sooner an armed person is present the sooner the attack stops. It took 20 minutes for the police to get to Woolwich, the killers waited.

Answer 5

Absolutely not. If you carry anything that looks like a gun - even a plastic toy one - the police will shoot you on sight if you do not obey their commands immediately to drop it (or otherwise).

Answer 6

Unlicensed guns are illegal, not sure what you mean by non lethal gun, like an airpistol? or the ones that shock people? - I think taser type guns are illegal in uk too.

Answer 7

such weapons are classed as firearms and the owner needs a Firearms Certificate.

Answer 8

Yes, go ahead and buy one. Then the police can shoot another nutter.

Answer 9

No they are not.Even under the conditions you describe, you/your girlfriend will go to prison.