Victoria police are reminding retailers of the rules for selling bear spray after seizing 30 cans over the past six months.
The spray, meant to act as a repellent in human-bear conflicts, is restricted by Health Canada under the Pest Control Products Act and is not allowed to be sold to anyone under 18.
“Bear spray is the weapon of choice amongst some of the individuals we deal with every day downtown,” said Staff Sgt. Conor King of the Focused Enforcement Team.
“Our officers are routinely encountering people concealing this weapon, and we’re pretty sure there are no bears in downtown Victoria.”
Using the spray as a weapon can come with charges ranging from possession of a dangerous weapon to assault, police said.
