Victim campaigns for protection of spray

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 4

Victim campaigns for protection of spray

An Auckland woman who has survived a brutal, disabling attack is campaigning for the protection of a tear-gas spray that is banned by the Police Department. Ms Barbara Henri, aged in her 50s, said she had been "beaten top to toe” in an attack in Australia that left her with a collapsed right face and spinal problems. She had since had her face reconsthicted and has taken self-defence lessons, but does not believe that would be enough to ward off further violence. She is determined others should also be protected and is pushing for the allowance of a mild tear-gas “silencer” spray

that makes an attacker’s eyes shut temporarily to give the victim a chance to escape. Ms Henri said the spray had proved safe overseas. New Zealand was the “last country in the world not to allow it.” For the last two years Ms Henri has been battling both the Police and the Customs departments which confiscated $40,000 worth of the anti-mugging spray after she imported it. The police say it is an offensive weapon. Ms Henri maintains it is not. She said the spray was not the tear-gas, Mace, which had been used to quejy riots in some countries.

“Forget Mace. It is outdated. But the word seems to have stuck. “The silencer spray has been well and truly investigated for safety in Britain and the United States. It is not an offensive weapon.” Learning self-defence was necessary, but not always enough, particularly for disabled, blind or elderly people, Ms Henri said. Other groups had also shown interest in the spray. “All the taxi-drivers are dying to get them, and I have had a lot of interest fronw security guards, nurse®,, and even traffc officers.”