Crossbows may be licensed after plot to assassinate late Queen

CROSSBOWS could be licensed like guns under a crackdown proposed by the Government after a man armed with one of the weapons breached security at Windsor Castle with plans to assassinate Elizabeth II.

The Home Office has launched a “call for evidence” in which it has proposed three different types of licensing scheme to increase safeguards over the sale, ownership and use of crossbows.

Unlike firearms, crossbows can be owned by anyone aged over 18 without registering them. Sale or hiring of crossbows to anyone under 18 is banned, with a maximum jail sentence of up to six months for anyone caught doing so.

Wildlife legislation also bans hunting animals with a crossbow and the use of arrows in “taking, killing or injuring any deer”. However, the estimated 250,000-300,000 crossbows in circulation remain unlicensed. The potential change has been proposed after Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, was arrested after scaling the perimeter of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021.

Armed with the powerful crossbow, with the safety catch off, that was capable of firing bolts with “lethal” effect, he was in the grounds for two hours before two officers confronted him. He told the officers he was there to “kill” the late Queen and immediately surrendered.

The Old Bailey heard the former supermarket worker who was caught wearing a metal mask was spurred on by his artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot “girlfriend” Sarai.

He was jailed for nine years for treason, the first person in the UK to be convicted of the offence since 1981.

The three licensing schemes being mooted by the Home Office would see varying levels checks by the police.

In the toughest scenario, police would undertaken suitability checks on sellers and buyers before they registered and were granted any licence.

“The expectation is that, with any new licensing or registration scheme, the licence fees for the scheme would cover the costs of setting up the scheme,” said the consultation. “However, there will be start-up costs in relation to new IT systems to allow applications to be made online, as well as staff to manage the applications and renewals of licences or registrations.”

Powerful crossbows can fire arrows at 500 feet per second and can be bought at prices ranging from a few hundred pounds to more that £2,500. They are billed as “highly accurate weapons at close to medium range.”

Safeguarding minister Laura Farris said: “We’re doing all we can to ensure we have the appropriate measures in place against any risks these potentially dangerous weapons may pose.”