PAVA spray

It contains a 0.3% solution of pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA), also called nonivamide, a synthetic capsaicinoid (analogue of capsaicin), in a solvent of aqueous ethanol.

This solution has been selected because this is the minimum concentration which will fulfill the purpose of the equipment; namely to minimise a person's capacity for resistance, without unnecessarily prolonging their discomfort.

PAVA is used widely as a less lethal, temporary defence tool around the world including in the United Kingdom,[2] India,[3] Switzerland,[4] and others.

[5] British police forces had traditionally used CS gas spray, but with the more widespread carriage of tasers, PAVA has now entirely replaced its predecessor due to its non-flammable nature.

Doctors also recommend not using oils or creams on the skin, and to not wear contact lenses, if one is planning to minimise the effects of nonivamide.