Legality Of Crossbows
Crossbows are subject to statutory controls under the Crossbows Act 1987, which makes it a criminal offence to sell or hire a crossbow with a draw weight of 1.4kg or more, to those under the age of 18. It is also a criminal offence for a person under the age of 18 to buy, hire or possess a crossbow or a part of a crossbow which is capable of discharging a missile. It is also an offence to possess parts of a crossbow which together can be assembled to form a crossbow.
The maximum penalty for the sale or hire of a crossbow to a person under the age of 18 is six months’ imprisonment, or a fine.1 The maximum penalty for a person under the age of 18 to buy, hire or possess a crossbow, or parts of a crossbow, is a fine.2
Beyond this, you do not need to own a licence or register the crossbow with the police as is required with firearms. Demands for tighter regulations and controls began after a five day inquest into the death of Shane Gilmer in April 2021. Following this inquest, coroner Professor Paul Marks submitted a report to the former Home Office Secretary, Priti Patel and the former Minister for Crime and Policing, Kit Malthouse. The Professor said he was concerned there was “no on-going control, record or licencing requirement for (crossbows)”, unlike firearms and shotguns.3
It is only in December 2021, that Priti Patel requested the Home Office review controls on crossbows following Jaswant Singh Chail being arrested on Christmas Day for being armed with a crossbow at Windsor Castle, stating he was going to kill the late Queen Elizabeth II. He subsequently admitted to treason, threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.
A call to evidence was issued by the Home Office, to gather information and evidence about whether further controls should be introduced on public safety grounds. This call closed in April of this year, however no further progress has been made towards changing the laws surrounding crossbows due to the recent general election.
Following the tragic incident involving the family of John Hunt on 9 July 2024, the newly appointed Home Secretary, the Rt Honourable Yvette Cooper MP has stated she will now urgently consider whether tougher laws are needed. Police believe that attack was carried out with a crossbow as well as possibly other weapons.
Although crossbow incidents are rare, with fewer than 10 homicides by crossbow from 2011 to 2021 according to the Home Office Homicide Index, these events are highly traumatic and devastating for all those involved. It is very clear that when used as a weapon, they pose a significant and dangerous risk to members of the public. Government should be determined to ensure necessary controls and safeguards are put in place regarding crossbows, to make the safety of the public of paramount importance.
If you want advice on the possession or sale of crossbows please contact one of our Criminal Defence experts on 0808 271 9413 for a discussion on the law and procedure.
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1 Section 6(1) Crossbows Act 1987
2 Section 6(2) Crossbows Act 1987
3 Regulation 30: Action to Prevent Future Deaths, 5 May 2021, https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Shane-Gilmer-2021-0140-Redacted.pdf
