Can I buy or carry pepper spray for self-defence in Malta?
No. In Malta pepper spray (OC spray) is not available to the ordinary citizen — it is illegal to buy it or carry it as a defence tool. Pepper spray is a controlled item that has traditionally been left in the hands of prison officers and the security forces only; even the police and the army did not carry it as a rule. That means you cannot lawfully keep one in your bag "just in case." The right to self-defence exists under the Criminal Code (Cap. 9) — you may defend yourself with proportionate force — but that does not make the tool of defence legal to keep or carry. The myth: that because it is "defensive" and not a firearm, pepper spray must surely be allowed. In fact, in 2017 a man in Swieqi was caught with a knife and pepper spray that he said he carried after an attack; the court rejected the excuse and gave him two years' imprisonment suspended and a fine. Every year the debate about legalisation resurfaces, but to date the spray remains prohibited for civilian use.
📋 The rules
- Pepper spray is a controlled item in Malta and is not freely on sale as a self-defence product for the citizen.
- It has traditionally been left only to prison officers and the authorities; not even the police carried it as a rule.
- Carrying pepper spray in public can lead to charges — as happened in the Swieqi case in 2017.
- The right to self-defence (Cap. 9) exists, but it justifies proportionate force, not keeping a prohibited tool.
- Legal alternatives for personal safety include a personal alarm, calling 112, and avoiding dangerous situations.
🔓 Exceptions
- The security forces and prison officers may use authorised spray in the course of their duties, under internal rules.
- In a real attack, defending yourself with proportionate force is protected — but that is about the act of defence, not the legality of the spray itself.
- Other, non-controlled products (such as a loud personal alarm) are not prohibited and can help as a deterrent.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Being caught with pepper spray in public is not a simple warning. As in the Swieqi case (2017), where the man carried a knife and spray together, the charges can bring prison time — that time two years suspended and a fine, with an offence recorded on the criminal record. The spray is confiscated, and the arrest and proceedings can leave a mark on your job, visa and travel. Ironically, using the spray in a situation that is not genuinely proportionate defence can turn you from a victim into a defendant for causing bodily harm. There is also the practical risk that the spray ends up used against you or escalates the confrontation. That is why the authorities insist that in danger the best route is to call 112 and report it, not to keep a tool that is itself prohibited.
📎 Official sources
- Legislation Malta · Arms Act (Cap. 480) and related laws →
- Legislation Malta · Criminal Code (Cap. 9) — lawful defence →
- Malta Police Force · personal safety and reporting →
❓ Frequently asked
Is pepper spray legal in Malta?
No, pepper spray is not freely on sale as a self-defence product, and buying it or carrying it can lead to a charge. It is a controlled item that has traditionally been left only to prison officers and the authorities, not the ordinary citizen.
Can I order pepper spray online and bring it to Malta?
Buying online does not change the law: the spray remains a controlled item and can be stopped at customs or cause you problems if you are caught with it. It is better to consider legal alternatives such as a personal alarm, because the fact that it was ordered from abroad gives you no defence in court.
If someone attacks me, can I use the spray?
The right to defend yourself with proportionate force exists under the Criminal Code, but that does not make the spray itself legal to keep or carry. On top of that, use that goes beyond proportionate defence can turn you into a defendant rather than a victim.
What can I legally carry for my safety?
Items that are not controlled, such as a loud personal alarm or a torch, are not prohibited and can serve as a deterrent. The authorities' advice is to avoid danger, keep your phone ready to call 112, and report any threat to the Police.
Will the law on pepper spray change?
Every so often a public debate arises about whether pepper spray should be legalised for self-defence, often after cases of violence. To date, however, no change has been made and the spray remains prohibited for civilian use, so you cannot rely on a change that has not yet happened.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “pepper spray malta”
- “is pepper spray legal malta”
- “self defence malta”
- “pepper spray illegal malta”
- “what can i carry defence malta”
- “pepper spray law malta”