Liz

I'd carry one if I were you, but also remember the bunch of keys or maglite trick.

For our American Cousins, let me summarize UK law:

Any kind of gun or a locking knife with a blade above 3 inches will lead to YOUR arrest, as will pepper spray, stun guns etc.

If you are attacked in the UK you are supposed to run away. If you can't then you can use "reasonable" self defence. I can remember an old case where a pensioner woke up to find two armed men in his bedroom. Unfortunately for them he was an ex Royal Marines Commando and pulling his fairburn-sykes from under the pillow he stabbed one and threw the other out of the window - result: no charges. However, recently, a farmer in Norfolk found two burglars in his house and shot them - result: long jail sentence (an Englishman's home is his castle if he doesn't mind state-pampered career criminals turning it over every three months!) These days "reasonable" means that if you touch the criminal in any way YOU do the time - crazy!!

End of Sermon... <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />