The laws have gone so topsy-turvy in Merry Olde that the very act of defending yourself from a mugging, rapist, or other attack, using whatever you happen to be holding, could land your ass in jail if it was determined you were originally carrying the item to be used as a weapon. Even defensively.
In other words, if you happen to be carrying an umbrella you better hope it's raining when you get mugged. Or else beating off your attackers with it is a crime.
The criminals who attacked you will get out of the stir long before you do.
The dramatic spike in violent crimes in Britain since enaction of their gun ban has gotten very little press coverage here in the US. Very strange, for such a gun loving nation as ours. You'd almost think the major press was at odds with public sentiment.
It takes a lot of built up trouble before conservatives stage protests. We just don't do it unless we're pushed to the wall.
We're not so good with papier-mache and public tantrums.