TESTED. Plegium Smart Defence Spray: A legal alternative to pepper spray

After the murder of Lisa (17) in Abcoude near Amsterdam, attention to self-defence and personal safety increased once again. Pepper spray alternatives quickly sold out and when we wrote an article about legal self-defence, we received an interesting response from Claudia from Safe at All Times.

Safe at All Times offers the Plegium Smart Defence Spray, a legal safety spray that not only sprays a type of marking spray, but also has other sound and alarm functions. We received a sample and were able to test it extensively.

🌶️ Pepper spray not legal

• Pepper spray is not legal in both Belgium and the Netherlands
• There are many alternatives on the market that are (semi)legal
• Many people also search for other legal self-defence tools

First impression

The legal pepper spray arrived in a small box containing the 5-in-1 spray. On the back of the box, the instructions for setting up all functions are clearly explained.

These are the 5 functions of the Plegium Smart Defence Spray:

• Moeilijk afwasbare UV-verf die je aanvaller markeert: “Identificatie zelfs na 5 dagen nog mogelijk.”
  • Therefore it is not real pepper spray, but a legal alternative
  • Whilst testing I got some paint on my hand: after washing 4 times the pink paint is still visible
  • The spray contains 13 ml of liquid, enough for approximately 20-30 short bursts or about 10-15 seconds of continuous spraying. You cannot refill the spray.
• An alarm of 130 dB.
• 3 bright LED strobe lights that can blind the attacker and attract the attention of bystanders.
• Automatic emergency calls to 2 to 7 of your emergency contacts
• Your location is also sent to your contacts

Our test

The instructions are on the back of the box and it indeed takes less than one minute to install the app. On the side of the legal ‘pepper spray’ itself there is a test button – so we didn’t have to actually put ourselves in danger to test the device.

The test button

When you press the test button, all functions except the spray are activated. Below we review all functions and show a short video.

The alarm is extremely loud, shrill and deterring

👍 More than loud enough to deter attackers
👍 Bystanders who don’t hear this sound are as deaf as a post
👎 The sound may be too loud for some, making it unpleasant for the victim as well

The bright LED lights can deter

👍 The LED lights flicker at a noticeable speed and will attract attention
👍 Especially in dark conditions they attract attention and blind the attacker

My emergency contact immediately received a call & text message

👍 One second after I pressed the test button, my emergency contact already received a call. A computer voice gave the following message to my contact person:

In addition, my contact person also received a text message from verification number 8128 with the information that I had discharged my ‘pepper spray’. It also included, via a link, my location to the exact square metre via Google Maps.

The spray itself

Then it was time to test the spray itself. We couldn’t find a volunteer willing to sacrifice their face for a good cause, so we had to try it out on a piece of paper.

According to manufacturer Plegium and Safe at All Times, the pepper spray alternative works perfectly from a distance of 3 metres. We put it to the test by testing the spray from various distances. A tip: don’t forget to slide the safety lever upwards, otherwise the spray won’t work!

• 3 metres: not easy to aim accurately, but you can hit your attacker properly
• 2 metres: from this distance you can easily hit your target and mark your assailant well
• 1.5 metres: almost impossible to miss

Conclusion

After extensive testing, the Plegium Smart Defence Spray proves to be a well-thought-out alternative to traditional pepper spray. The combination of five functions makes this legal self-defence tool more versatile than ordinary marking sprays. The 130 dB alarm and bright LED lights ensure maximum attention, whilst the automatic emergency calls form a crucial safety line to your contacts.

The spray works effectively up to three metres distance, although I recommend getting closer for a more accurate hit. I found the speed of the emergency notification particularly impressive – within one second my contact received both a phone call and a text message with my exact location.

For those looking for a legal self-defence tool that offers more than just a marking spray, the Plegium is an interesting option. The combination of deterrence, marking and emergency assistance can make the difference in a dangerous situation.