Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner wants crossbows to go under firearms legislation
Jonathan Evison is calling for more legal checks
Last updated 12th Jul 2024
Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison has said he wants the sale of crossbows to be handled under the same laws as firearms.
The remarks were made at the Humberside Police and Crime Panel meeting of July 11, in Cottingham, which is made up of Humberside area councillors and independent members. It comes after the nationwide news of the tragic deaths of Carol Hunt, married to BBC racing commentator Jon Hunt, and their daughters Louise and Hannah, in Hertfordshire, killed by a crossbow and other weapons on Tuesday, July 9.
Police have confirmed today that a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
PCC Evison commented on the case and how easy it was for crossbows to be purchased, even at a seaside high street. It was part of his response to a question from East Riding Cllr Samantha Whyte about he plans in his next term to bring violence against women and girls (VAWG) to the forefront of his work.
“What happened over the last couple of days was an absolute tragedy,” said PCC Evison, raising the high-profile case. “My heart bleeds for the family.” He added his wife had gone to school with Mr Hunt’s brother.
There have been “similar incidents in the region” in recent years he said. He had “worked hard with one of the victims”, whose partner was killed in their own home, to lobby to get the law changed. He sought to make the sale restrictions of crossbows equivalent to firearms, but efforts so far had been unsuccessful. “I’m very much of the opinion that sales should be restricted.”
He stated how an individual could take a trip to the seaside, and “you can walk down any High Street” to buy it, or mail order online a crossbow. Apart from an age restriction to over 18 years old, there are no other legally required checks currently for people looking to buy a crossbow.
“They should come in the same legislation under firearms,” Mr Evison said to the panel. In 2021, then-Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered a review into crossbow controls after an individual broke into Windsor Castle to try the kill Queen Elizabeth II with one. Only in February this year did the Home Office open a call for evidence on possible of tightening of rules around crossbows.
The new Labour government was elected with a manifesto pledge to “take robust action to stop the sale of crossbows as weapons”. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his condolences to the Hunt family when asked by the BBC at the Washington NATO summit whether there would be a crossbow law change. “In relation to crossbows, the Home Secretary has announced she will look at the legislation and we will, but there’s no getting away from how awful this incident was.”
On action on VAWG generally, PCC Evison related the importance of the issue to him to having four daughter and grand-daughters each. “We worked with and still are working with Jessica Taylor,” he said, who led a VictimFocus study commissioned by the PCC into the issue in Humberside.
Conferences had been held across Humberside on VAWG, and all Humberside businesses are being encouraged to sign up to the White Ribbon accreditation scheme. This ensures organisations take a strategic approach to ending men’s violence against women.
“It’s a big push for my office, it’s a big push as far as the force are concerned,” he said of action on VAWG.