Crossbow Sales to Be Banned Following Triple Murder of BBC Commentator's Family
The Home Office is set to implement a ban on the sale of crossbows and hunting arrows, alongside introducing a new licensing requirement for existing owners, in response to a series of violent attacks. These proposals aim to tighten regulations around these potentially lethal weapons, which have been involved in multiple high-profile incidents.
Triggered by Tragic Murders
This move comes in the wake of the horrific murders of BBC racing commentator John Hunt's wife and two daughters in July 2024. Kyle Clifford, 26, received a whole-life order for killing Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, in a crossbow and knife attack at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Currently, there is no registration system for crossbow ownership, nor is a licence required, despite their ready availability for purchase online. While it is illegal for children to buy or own one, and carrying a crossbow in public without a valid reason can lead to a four-year prison sentence, the lack of broader controls has been a significant concern.
Government Consultation and Public Apprehension
The government had previously vowed to strengthen rules, launching a consultation that revealed widespread public apprehension regarding the ease with which crossbows could be acquired. The new plans seek to address these critical safety gaps. In a consultation response published on Thursday, the Home Office stated: "The Government is concerned how easily these weapons can currently be purchased and the use of these weapons in the murders in Bushey on 9 July 2024, and the attacks by crossbow in Headingley on 26 April 2025, and in other cases where crossbows have been used to commit murders and other serious criminal offences, have highlighted that further controls on crossbows are required."
Details of the Proposed Measures
The Home Office outlined the following steps:
- Introduce a licensing scheme for existing crossbow owners, with details to be consulted on.
- Prohibit the sale of crossbows entirely.
- Consult on how best to achieve such a ban, anticipating that existing owners can keep their crossbows if they apply for a licence and pass suitability checks.
- Plan to prohibit broadhead arrows as part of the restrictions.
Historical Context and Recent Incidents
Killings with a crossbow are typically rare, but there has been a string of incidents in recent years. The review of the rules was ordered after an attempt to kill the late Queen with the weapon. Would-be assassin Jaswant Singh Chail was encouraged by an AI chatbot to break into Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021 with a loaded crossbow to kill the late Queen. The 21-year-old was jailed for nine years in 2023 and handed a further five years on extended licence after admitting treason, making a threat to kill the then Queen, and having a loaded crossbow.
Campaigner's Response and "Shane's Law"
Laura Sugden, who has campaigned for a change in the law since her partner Shane Gilmer was killed in a crossbow attack in 2018, said she was "relieved and grateful" about the announcement and that she hoped the new rules will be known as "Shane's Law". Mr Gilmer, 30, died after his next-door neighbour broke into his house in the village of Southburn, East Yorkshire, and shot both him and Ms Sugden, leaving her seriously injured. Ms Sugden added: "For years, we have argued that it was far too easy for people to obtain these lethal weapons. Shane lost his life because of a system that failed to recognise the risks."
Other Cases Highlighting the Need for Change
In October last year, the public inquiry into the Southport attack heard killer Axel Rudakubana contacted two archery retailers when he was 15 asking if they could deliver crossbows in "discreet" packaging. This came two years before he carried out the mass stabbing, murdering three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Additionally, convicted stalker Bryce Hodgson was shot dead by police after he broke into a London home armed with weapons including a crossbow in 2024. A domestic homicide review found the Metropolitan Police missed opportunities to protect Sana Muhammad from her ex-husband Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo in the years before he killed her with a crossbow while she was eight months pregnant.
Government Statement and Future Implementation
A Government spokesman said tougher rules were being introduced "so we can prevent serious harm before it happens". He added: "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." However, it remains unclear when these changes will come into force, as further consultations are planned to finalise the details of the licensing scheme and sales ban.
