After the protective vests, court officials in North Rhine-Westphalia are now also equipped with pepper spray. For this purpose, 900 irritant spray devices were purchased, a Justice Ministry spokesman said in response to a DPA request.
Typically, pepper spray – unless it is sold as an animal repellent – requires a small arms permit under the law. The ministry said this is unnecessary for court officials because they have a business dealing with the spray.
Bailiffs will only hand over defensive weapons if they have previously undergone training. This “must be repeated at intervals of no more than three years to refresh or deepen the safe use of irritant spraying devices,” the spokesman said.
Last year, the distribution of 750 protective vests for bailiffs began. Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach (Green Party) emphasized at the time that there was no obligation to wear them. According to the ministry, the same is true for pepper spray.
