Minister Pledges Review of Crossbow Laws After Tragic Deaths In the wake of the tragic deaths of three women in separate incidents involving crossbows, the UK government has announced an urgent review of the laws surrounding these weapons. Home Secretary Priti Patel has stated that she is “deeply concerned” by the recent fatalities and has instructed officials to examine the current regulations governing the sale, ownership, and use of crossbows. The incidents that have prompted the review include: * The shooting death of a 35-year-old woman in London on April 19th, 2022. * The killing of a 22-year-old woman in Hampshire on April 24th, 2022. * The fatal crossbow attack on a 56-year-old woman in Gloucestershire on April 25th, 2022. Patel has emphasized that while crossbows are not as strictly regulated as firearms, they are still capable of causing significant harm and deaths. She has urged the public to exercise vigilance and report any suspicious activity involving crossbows. The review will consider various aspects of crossbow laws, including: * The minimum age for purchasing or possessing a crossbow * Requirements for training or licensing * Secure storage regulations * Restrictions on certain types or accessories of crossbows The government aims to ensure that the laws are adequate to prevent the misuse of these weapons while balancing the legitimate interests of recreational crossbow users. Patel has said that she will announce the findings of the review and any proposed changes as soon as possible. She has also expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and pledged support for those affected by the tragedies.Ministers Act on Crossbow Law Review After Triple HomicideMinisters Act on Crossbow Law Review After Triple Homicide Following the tragic deaths of three women in Hertfordshire, security minister Dan Jarvis announced that ministers will swiftly review existing crossbow ownership laws. The incident, involving a suspected crossbow attack, has raised concerns about the adequacy of current regulations. Jarvis acknowledged the legitimacy of questioning the effectiveness of existing gun laws and emphasized that ministers will take decisive action if deemed necessary. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is thoroughly examining a call for evidence initiated by the Home Office earlier this year. “These are very serious and urgent matters,” Jarvis stated. Expressing doubt about the appropriateness of current legislation, which permits individuals over 18 to purchase and possess a crossbow without registration or license, he said, “I think it’s a completely reasonable challenge.” “We will want to look very carefully at the legislation in place at the moment and we will have to come to a conclusion sooner rather than later as to whether the current legislation is appropriate or not,” Jarvis continued. “If we decide that it is not – and I think you raise a very important point about people’s ability to buy these particular weapons – then we will have to make changes to the legislation. But we have to do it properly, there has to be due process.” The call for trials on crossbow regulation ended under the Conservative government in April, with no further progress made since. Jarvis extended condolences to the families of the victims and described the attack in Bushey as “devastating.” Shadow Home Secretary Cooper expressed concern about the current legislation, highlighting the government’s commitment to reducing violence against women and girls. “We are deeply moved by the seriousness and importance of this matter and I think you are aware that we have made a clear commitment to halve violence against women and girls in our country within a 10-year period,” Cooper said. Jarvis emphasized that assessments of the current legislative framework will be conducted swiftly, and changes will be made if necessary to ensure public safety. Tributes have been paid to Carol Hunt and her daughters, Hannah and Louise, who were discovered with serious injuries and later died at the scene. It has been revealed that they are the family of BBC racing commentator John Hunt. A suspect, Kyle Clifford, has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains hospitalized. Superintendent Jon Simpson of Hertfordshire Police confirmed that the attack was believed to be targeted and carried out with a crossbow, potentially in conjunction with other weapons.Three women have been killed in separate incidents involving crossbows in recent weeks, prompting the Home Office to announce an urgent review of the laws around their use and ownership. Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was “deeply concerned” by the deaths and that the government would “take action to ensure that crossbows are not falling into the wrong hands”. The review will consider a range of measures, including stricter controls on the sale and possession of crossbows, and whether they should be subject to the same licensing requirements as other weapons. The move comes after a series of high-profile cases involving the use of crossbows in violent crime. In one incident, a man was jailed for life after he used a crossbow to kill his ex-partner. In another, a woman was shot and killed by a crossbow bolt while she was walking her dog. The review will be carried out by the Home Office’s Violent Crime Taskforce, which was set up in 2018 to tackle the rising levels of violence in the UK. The taskforce is chaired by the Home Secretary and includes senior police officers, academics and community representatives. The Home Office said the review would be “thorough and wide-ranging” and that it would “consider all the available evidence” before making any recommendations. The review is expected to report back to the Home Secretary by the end of the year. In the meantime, the Home Office has advised the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police.