to stop attackers in their tracks.

Mr. Steven Jones, who sells survival equipment and outdoor gear, believes Mace is the answer for women frightened to venture out alone at night.

But his plan looks likely to be quashed by Police, because Mace sprays are illegal in Bermuda and there is no sign of the ban being lifted.

And women's groups, who Mr. Jones wants to win over, have given the idea a cool initial reception.

Mr. Jones, who is married and has two daughters, came up with the scheme after reading yesterday's survey in the The Royal Gazette revealing women's fears of attackers. One anonymous woman confessed she had a secret can of Mace.

"In the last few months the papers have been going pretty wild about women being raped,'' said Mr. Jones. "Now it's like an everyday thing.

`Mace is illegal, but times are changing. If men got caught with it they could still face the same penalty or a stiffer penalty, but for women it's time they should be issued with spray Mace if they go walking or jogging.

"It's time for it to be on the market, under one roof.'' Mr. Jones wants to get the approval of women's groups before taking the plan further. And he wants the Police to monitor the scheme, under which he would be the only retailer allowed to import and sell the sprays.

"This is something for women that they need. I'm not looking to make money off it.'' Mr. Jones, whose store Rampage Surplus Supplies opened on Dundonald Street in June, already has a Manhattan dealer lined up. He said the sprays reached up to 20 feet, and were effective.

"You just spray it and you keep moving. It gives you some minutes to get away.'' But the plan failed to impress Police spokesman Sgt. John Dale.

"Spray chemical Mace is a prohibited weapon under the Firearms Act of 1973, as it discharges a noxious gas,'' he said. "We don't support its importation and use, as it can easily end up in the wrong hands.'' Instead, Police encouraged the use of handbag-sized personal alarms, he said.

Women could call the Police crime prevention department for advice.

Ms Shanda Simmons, of the Women's Resource Centre, doubted Mace would be made legal. "I'm not sure that the idea will very easily get over that hurdle,'' she said.

"I think women do need to start finding some means of being comfortable when they go on the street. I'm not necessarily sure that Mace is the answer. If someone really wants to harm you, they're going to do so.

"And there's always a chance that that person can turn around and use the same thing on you.'' She stressed it was the centre's experience that most recent attacks on women were carried out by men known to their victims.

Mrs. Kim Young, of the Women's Advisory Council, said she would not dismiss Mr. Jones' idea out of hand. "It's something we could discuss and think about,'' she said.

She advised women to take self-defence courses, such as those offered at karate schools. They should avoid walking alone at night, and if they had to, they should stay in bright areas.