Man 38 sprayed in the eyes with pepper spray then threatened with knife

In Plymouth a man was sprayed in the eyes with pepper spray and threatened with a knife by a gang he approached and asked to pick up litter they had thrown, other members of the gang were encouraging the youth with the knife to stab the man, who luckily managed to drive off before this threat could be carried out.
It makes a mockery of Jacqui Smith, telling the public to confront antisocial behaviour head on, when so many decent citizens who have taken this approach have been injured or killed.
Pepper spray is outlawed in the UK, even the Police are using a substitute, because of the harm it can cause.
Owners of Internet sites from Europe and the US should be prosecuted if they sell products like tasers and CS gas to the UK.