Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of criminal acts committed in the last five years in which crossbows have been used; what representations she has received over a similar period in favour of tighter restrictions being imposed on the sale and use of those weapons; and if she will make a statement.

The Home Office does not collect information on whether an offence recorded by the police involved a crossbow.

We periodically engage with the police to assess if they see crossbows as an emerging threat in crime. While tragic when they do occur, the misuse of crossbows is rare and the vast majority of those using crossbows, do so safely and responsibly. Misuse of these articles could be an offence, and legislation is already in place to deal with those who use crossbows as a weapon. We keep the legislation on bladed articles and offensive weapons, including crossbows, under review.