Crossbows 'too easy' to get hold of - campaigner

A woman whose partner was killed in a crossbow attack has said recent violence in Leeds involving such a weapon had once again proved it was "far too easy" to get hold of one.

Laura Sugden made her comments after an attack involving a crossbow and a firearm was carried out in Headingley on Saturday, leaving two women needing hospital treatment.

Ms Sugden has been calling for tougher laws since her partner, Shane Gilmer, was murdered in January 2018 when a neighbour broke into their home in Southburn, near Driffield, in East Yorkshire, and shot them both with a crossbow.

Ms Sugden said: "This recent attack in Headingley shows yet again how dangerous and accessible these weapons are."

Police confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect in the crossbow attack in Headingley had died of a self-inflicted wound.

Owen Lawrence, 38, from Leeds, had been arrested and taken to hospital following the incident along the route of the popular Otley Run pub crawl.

Two women, aged 19 and 31, were taken to hospital for treatment as a result of the attack, with the younger woman undergoing surgery for life-threatening injuries.

Both were later discharged from hospital.

Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said after the attack that the government planned to "further limit the availability of accessibility of crossbows".

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Johnson said the government was "very aware of concerns about the use of crossbows in violent attacks".

"We share those concerns, and last week the government tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to strengthen age verification controls on both online sale and delivery of crossbows," she told MPs.

The government planned to "further limit the availability of accessibility of crossbows", she added.

Ms Sugden said while she welcomed the government's proposals, she believed they needed to go further.

"Crossbows are devastating weapons - in some cases more dangerous than guns - and it's far too easy to get hold of one today," she said.

"The latest proposals are a start, but we need real, meaningful action that stops tragedies like Shane's from ever happening again."

Under the Crossbows Act 1987, it is legal to buy a crossbow in England, Scotland and Wales, and owners are not required to register the weapon or hold a licence, with similar legislation also covering Northern Ireland.

This means that law enforcement agencies have no way of knowing how many crossbows are in circulation or where they are stored.

• What is a crossbow and is owning one legal?

Solicitor Gemma Vine, from Leeds-based Ison Harrison, who is working with Ms Sugden on her campaign, told BBC Radio Leeds that "any legislation at all to try and protect the public is needed".

Ms Vine said she also welcomed Johnson's announcement, but added that "it needs to be sooner rather than later".

"They keep saying they're going to release it shortly, but we were told the same in January," Ms Vine said.

"Four months have passed and now we've had this incident."

Although crossbow attacks are rare in this country, with fewer than 10 deaths involving the weapons between 2011 and 2021, there have been a number of high-profile cases.

Last year, the wife and two daughters of BBC horse racing commentator John Hunt were murdered in an attack involving a crossbow.

Carol Hunt, 61, was stabbed to death and Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, suffered fatal crossbow bolt injuries in their home in Bushey, near Watford, on 9 July.

In March, Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, was jailed for life for their murders.

Ms Sugden said she understood that a total ban to try to avoid such attacks in the future "may not be feasible".

However, she added: "We must have legislation in place that offers real protection and accountability."

Additional reporting by PA Media

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