CALGARY – Police say there’s an alarming increase in the use of pepper spray by local criminals.
In 2011, police recorded 88 incidents where pepper spray was used. A year later that number almost doubled to 161. Then, in 2013 there were 147 incident in the first nine months, which suggests an upward trend
The latest pepper spray incident was during a robbery at the Bay location at Market Mall on Wednesday.
Police say a security guard was sprayed by a 14-year-old boy who now faces multiple charges including assault with a weapon and possession of a concealed weapon.
The active ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin, which is also in bear spray and dog spray.
Despite this, police say they do not favour legislation restricting the use of legal sprays with capsaicin.
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