Yes, personal alarms (often called rape alarms) are legal to buy and carry anywhere in the UK, because they only make a noise. Police advice describes an alarm as the only fully legal self-defence product. An alarm won’t stop an attacker, but a loud, continuous siren can shock and distract them for a few vital seconds so you can get away. Choose one that is over 130 decibels and easy to set off with one hand, and avoid any gadget that also sprays or gives an electric shock: those are illegal weapons.
Updated 2 October 2026 · Sources: police advice (askthe.police.uk, Avon and Somerset Police), Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Apple Support, Google Android Help, Firearms Act 1968, CPS
A personal alarm does not contact anyone. If you are in danger, get away and call 999 (or 112). If you can’t speak, stay on the line and follow the operator’s prompts: see how to make a silent 999 call.
Personal alarms in four numbers
Personal alarm vs safety app vs both
An alarm and a phone do different jobs. This is how they compare at a glance (▲ strong, ▬ partly, ▼ weak). For the habits that go with them, see our walking home at night checklist.
Based on Suzy Lamplugh Trust alarm advice, askthe.police.uk, Apple Support (Emergency SOS on iPhone) and Google Android Help (Emergency SOS).
Sources: Suzy Lamplugh Trust personal safety advice (sound and ease of use), Avon and Somerset Police and askthe.police.uk (purpose of an alarm), CPS firearms guidance (disguised stun guns, section 311 Sentencing Act 2020; 3 years for under-18s).
Are personal alarms legal in the UK?
Yes. A personal alarm only makes a loud noise, so it is legal to buy, own and carry in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, at any age. The police-run askthe.police.uk service says the only fully legal self-defence product at the moment is a rape alarm. What makes a gadget illegal is anything built to injure, such as a spray or a stun function. Our guide to what you can legally carry for self-defence covers the wider rules.
Is a rape alarm the same as a personal alarm?
Yes. “Rape alarm”, “personal alarm”, “personal attack alarm” and “personal safety alarm” all describe the same small device: a keyring or clip-on siren you set off by pulling a pin or pressing a button. Police forces usually say “personal attack alarm”. Anyone can carry one, whatever their gender. They are different from pendant alarms for older people, which connect to a monitoring service.
Do personal alarms actually work?
They work for one job: buying time. Avon and Somerset Police says an alarm is designed to shock and distract an attacker, giving you vital seconds to get away. It will not stop someone determined, and people nearby may not react. So treat it as an escape tool, not protection: set it off, then move towards a busy, well-lit place straight away.
What to look for when you buy one
How to use a personal alarm, step by step
1. Have it in your hand
2. Set it off close to their face
3. Drop it and go
4. Head for people and shout clearly
5. Call 999 when you’re safe
Which self-defence gadgets are legal in the UK?
Only items that don’t injure are safe to carry. Pepper spray and CS spray count as prohibited weapons: in Great Britain under section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, which covers any weapon designed or adapted to discharge a noxious liquid, gas or other thing, and in Northern Ireland under Article 45 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004.
Based on legislation.gov.uk, CPS firearms guidance and askthe.police.uk. General information, not legal advice.
When is a personal alarm not enough?
An alarm only helps in the moment and only if someone hears it. It can’t tell anyone where you are, and it can’t call for help. Pair it with habits that do: share your live location with someone you trust (how to share your live location), set up Emergency SOS on your phone, and plan your route using our walking home at night checklist. If you think someone is following you, read what to do if you think you’re being followed.
What is the best personal alarm for women?
We don’t rank brands, but the features matter more than the label. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust says the most effective personal alarm is continuous and over 130 decibels (about 138 dB is ideal), and easy to carry and set off with one hand. Keep it on your keys, test it, and never buy one that also sprays or shocks: see what you can legally carry.
Personal safety alarm vs personal attack alarm: is there a difference?
No. In everyday use, “personal safety alarm” and “personal attack alarm” are two names for the same small, noise-only device, and shops use them interchangeably. What matters is how loud it is and how easy it is to set off, not what it’s called. If you want something that tells other people where you are, you need a phone feature or app instead: see our fair comparison of personal safety apps.
Should I carry an alarm or use a safety app?
Many people use both. An alarm makes noise instantly; your phone can reach people who aren’t there. Built-in Emergency SOS is free: Apple says that after an SOS call your iPhone texts your emergency contacts with your current location, and Android SOS can share your location and play an alarm sound. Apps such as Hollie Guard add more. We make Safety App UK.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. There is no age limit on carrying a noise-only alarm. If your child carries one, show them how to set it off, remind them it is for real danger only, and agree what they should do next, such as running to a safe adult. See our guide on walking to school alone.
No. Pepper spray is a prohibited weapon across the UK, wherever you bought it and even if it is legal in the country you got it from. Police warn that self-defence products bought abroad have a greater chance of being illegal here.
They do different jobs. An alarm makes instant noise without unlocking anything; an app can share your location and alert people you trust. Many people carry both. Our fair comparison of personal safety apps explains what to look for.
If you feel threatened, yes: that is what it is for. Set it off, move away towards other people and call 999 when you are safe. If it is harassment rather than an attack, report it to the police on 101 or online too.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust says the most effective sound is continuous and over 130 decibels, with about 138 dB ideal. A siren that keeps going once triggered is better than a short beep, because it carries on while you get away.
No. A standard personal alarm only makes a noise; it doesn’t contact anyone or share your location. Call 999 yourself once you are away, and if you can’t speak, see how to make a silent 999 call.
Sources
- askthe.police.uk: are there any legal self-defence products I can buy?
- Avon and Somerset Police: keeping yourself safe
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust: personal safety out and about
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust: students and personal safety
- Firearms Act 1968, section 5 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, article 45
- CPS legal guidance: firearms
- Apple Support: make an emergency call or text on iPhone or Apple Watch
- Google Android Help: Emergency SOS
General information, not legal advice. We don’t recommend specific alarm brands. In an emergency, always call 999.
Keep reading
An alarm makes noise. Your circle needs to know too
Safety App UK works alongside a personal alarm. Trigger an SOS by button or shake, or automatically in higher-crime zones, and it sends your live location and live video to a trusted circle. Safe Zone alerts tell them when you arrive home, and the live safety map, built from police data and community reports, shows police stations and Ask for Angela venues and helps you plan safer routes. It does not call the emergency services, so in an emergency always dial 999. Free for 7 days, then £2.99 a month. For ages 16+.