CROSSBOWS are facing a crackdown with ministers considering the need for licences and background checks to buy the killer weapon.
The Home Office has today announced a probe into toughening the rules around the lethal launchers following a spate of cases.
PAThe crossbow carries by Jaswant Singh Chail in the grounds of Windsor Castle[/caption]
While there were just 10 crossbow killings between 2011 and 2021, there are growing fears of the risk they pose to the public.
It is currently illegal for anyone under 18 to buy or carry a crossbow and anyone who has one without a reasonable excuse faces up to four years in jail.
As part of the eight-week review ministers are looking at bringing regulations in line with firearms to require people to have licences and undergo police checks.
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.”
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel commissioned a review into crossbows in 2021 after 19-year-old Jaswant Singh Chail was convicted after carrying the weapon at Windsor Castle.
He wore a hood and mask to swoop on the royal grounds on Christmas Day 2021.
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