THE Crossbows Act has been in place since 1987, but restrictions on the weapons could soon change.
Home Secretary Yvette Coope has said she will consider the findings of a review after a horrific crossbow crime in Bushey on July 10, 2024 left three people dead.
It is illegal for anyone under 18 to purchase or possess a crossbow under current legislation.
Crossbows are legal to buy and own in the UK for anyone aged 18 or over.
In February 2024, the previous Conservative government launched a call for evidence to ask whether these rules are tough enough.
The call for evidence closed on April 9, 2024. Since then, there has been no further progress towards changing the law.
As a result, there is still no requirement for a licence or a registration system for owning a crossbow in Great Britain.
Following an incident at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day in 2021, the former Home Secretary Priti Patel commissioned a review on crossbow controls.
Jaaswant Singh Chail, who was 19 at the time, was arrested on the grounds of the castle carrying the weapon.
Singh Chail was sentenced to nine years in prison with a further five years on extended licence for the incident.
Strengthened rules could include police checks for anyone looking to purchase a crossbow, and a licensing scheme to protect public safety.
This would mean that crossbows are policed under regulations comparable to firearms.
Former Safeguarding Minister Laura Farris said: “Crossbows are used rarely in violent crime in this country but they can be highly dangerous.
“We’re doing all we can to ensure we have the appropriate measures in place against any risks these potentially dangerous weapons may pose.
“I encourage the public and those in the industry to come forward to share their views so we can have the most accurate picture and take any necessary action to keep our streets safe.”
According to the Home Office, there were fewer than 10 homicides by crossbow between 2011 and 2021.
On July 10, 2024, BBC racing commentator John Hunt found his wife and two of his daughters “tied up and shot with a crossbow” when he got home from work.
Carol Hunt, 61, and daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, were found dead inside their house — the prime suspect for their murders is Kyle Clifford.
The home secretary will swiftly consider the findings to see if laws need to be tightened further
Home Office Spokesperson
The ex-Army private, 26, was arrested and bundled into the back of an ambulance on the afternoon of July 10 after armed police swooped on a cemetery in Hilly Fields in Enfield, North London.
New Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she will “swiftly” consider the findings of the review following the tragic incident.
A Home Office spokesperson said after the Bushey killings: “This is an appalling incident and the home secretary is being kept updated by the police.
“We keep legislation under constant review and a call for evidence was launched earlier this year to look at whether further controls on crossbows should be introduced.
“The home secretary will swiftly consider the findings to see if laws need to be tightened further.”
It is an offence to sell or hire a crossbow with a draw weight of 1.4kg or greater to anyone under the age of 18 in England, Wales and Scotland.
The weapons are subject to statutory controls under the Crossbows Act 1987.
Similar legislation exists in Northern Ireland, where under-18s are not permitted to hire or purchase a crossbow.
The maximum penalty for the sale or hire of a crossbow to anyone under 18 is six months imprisonment or a fine of up to £1,000.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that it is also illegal to hunt with a crossbow.
Anyone carrying a crossbow in public without a reasonable excuse faces up to four years behind bars.
