Watford MP calls for tougher crossbow laws after Bushey attack

The MP for Watford has written to the Home Secretary, asking her to toughen up crossbow laws.

It follows an attack in Bushey on Tuesday evening, where three women, who were all related, died at a home in Ashlyn Close.

Matt Turmaine has written to Yvette Cooper asking for rules to be reviewed. He said: "It's an extremely unusual, horrific and tragic crime that has taking place and is very out of keeping of course for Hertfordshire."

He continued, "I wrote to Yvette Cooper, who's the Home Secretary, yesterday Wednesday actually, to say, look, do we need to look at more detail at what's going on around crossbows?

"I know that she is urgently reviewing this and they are looking at it at the moment so, I fully expect to see something come out of this but we will see what comes out of it over the next few days."

The new Watford MP said he will be representing the views of locals on the issue, as the review continues, as well as noting the devastation among the community.

"I think its clear the impact on the community has been huge. You can see that on the outpouring of grief that's taking place."

Carol Hunt, 61, wife of racing commentator John Hunt, and their two daughters Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were killed in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday.

The Hunts were described as "the loveliest, gentlest family" as well-wishers laid flowers by the police cordon in Ashlyn Close.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is urgently considering whether tougher crossbow laws are needed in the wake of the killings.

She will look at the findings of a Home Office review carried out earlier this year.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "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."

PCC calls on society to ‘redouble efforts’ to tackle violence against women and girls

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, Jonathan Ash-Edwards, is calling on society to 'redouble efforts' to tackle violence against women and girls, after the murders in Bushey this week.

He said: “This has been a truly terrible incident for Hertfordshire, and I cannot imagine what the family and friends of the victims are going through following this tragic and senseless waste of life. They have my deepest condolences and sympathies. It’s impossible to understand that such horrendous crimes have taken place in a residential street in a quiet part of Hertfordshire."

Speaking about the reminder that this serves surrounding violence, Mr Ash-Edwards continued: “These murders are a tragic reminder of the regularity and severity of male violence against women and girls. Across society, we must redouble our efforts to tackle it. I will do everything I can as the new Police and Crime Commissioner in Hertfordshire to play my part.”

Calls for reviews into the crossbow laws are being echoed across the country.

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