Campaigners have called on the Government to implement a ban on the sale of deadly crossbows without further delay, warning that every day of inaction puts lives at risk. In March, the Home Office announced it would seek to prohibit the sale of crossbows and broadhead arrows and introduce a licensing scheme for existing owners, marking a significant victory for the Express Crackdown on Crossbows campaign. However, four months later, no legislation has been introduced, and with Parliament heading for summer recess, fears are growing that the measures may not come into force this year.
Recent Attacks Underscore Urgency
Crossbows continue to feature in the news. On July 10, a 21-year-old man in possession of a crossbow was shot by armed police in Newport, South Wales, at 11:55 PM. He was arrested on suspicion of affray, threats to kill, and possession of an offensive weapon and taken to hospital in a stable condition. Gwent Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Just five weeks earlier, on June 5, University of Surrey campus safety officer Robert Tytler was seriously injured after being shot with a crossbow at Manor Park Student Village in Guildford. Former student Almunthir Daqamah, 21, a Saudi national, has been charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody ahead of a November trial.
Victims' Families Express Frustration
Laura Sugden, who was seriously injured in a crossbow attack in 2018 that killed her partner Shane Gilmer, 30, in east Yorkshire, welcomed the March announcement but said there has been a wall of silence since. “My solicitor wrote to the Home Office asking for more details of when this will be introduced after the announcement and we have had nothing back and are still waiting. This absolutely needs to be brought in now, but it is July already so it won't be until autumn at the earliest,” she said.
Sir John Hayes, Conservative MP for South Holland and The Deepings, who backed the campaign, said he too has been stonewalled. “I raised a business question with the Leader of the House asking for more details and there has been no response, so I have now written to ask when this will be implemented and have said any further delay risks more lives because crossbows are as stealthy as knives and as powerful as guns and in the wrong hands they will cost the lives of more innocent people.”
Background of the Campaign
The Express Crackdown on Crossbows campaign launched on July 7, 2024, after the newspaper exposed that a potentially deadly crossbow could be bought online for as little as £50, requiring only a photo of a driving licence, with no further questions asked. Two days later, Kyle Clifford used a crossbow and knives to murder his former girlfriend Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah, 28, and their mother Carol, 61, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Clifford received three whole-life orders in March last year.
The previous Conservative government launched a call for evidence on crossbow restrictions in February 2024, which ended in April 2024, but results were not initially published. The newly elected Labour Government vowed action but has not yet published the results. In April last year, the Government pledged to introduce new laws on online crossbow purchases, including two-step age verification, but the campaign pushed for more. Only this March did the Home Office announce a ban on sales and a licensing scheme.
Home Office Response
When the March announcement was made, the Home Office said further consultation would be needed on implementation and the exact licensing scheme. However, it does not appear to have started that process. A Home Office spokesperson said: “Crossbows are powerful and deadly weapons, and recent tragedies have shown the devastating harm they can inflict when they are misused. Our priority is keeping people safe. That is why we are introducing stronger controls for crossbows, including a licensing scheme for existing owners and a ban on sales, so we can prevent serious harm before it happens. We will consult on the detailed arrangements in due course.”
