Crossbows sold without a licence or background checks

Two North-East MPs have called on the Government to ban them after an investigation by The Northern Echo explored how easy it is to get hold of the potentially deadly weapons, which fire aluminium pointed bolts at high velocity.

Some come equipped with telescopic sights to help their aim and the weapons are designed so firing them is as straightforward as possible.

Anyone armed with a crossbow only has to load a bolt and focus on pulling the trigger.

Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, has called on the Government to ban them and is supported by Darlington MP Jenny Chapman.

"These are seriously dangerous weapons that have no reason to be on sale to the general public," said Ms Goodman.

"In 1997 the Labour Government did the right thing and banned the sale of handguns following the tragedy of the Dunblane massacre.

"The current Government needs to take this even further and ban the sale of crossbows entirely before have another needless tragedy on our hands."

Ms Chapman added: "I was troubled to discover the ease in which anybody over 18 can purchase a crossbow in England and fully support Helen’s call for the banning of such weapons.

"Currently, you do not require a licence or registration to own a crossbow, and armed with the internet and a credit card it is possible to have one delivered to your front door in a matter of days, with very few questions asked.

"I’d find it difficult to imagine anyone who would disagree with the sentiment put forward by Helen.”

A number of worrying crimes have involved crossbows in the North-East and North Yorkshire in the last nine years, while one was used by the self-styled 'crossbow cannibal', Stephen Griffiths, in 2010 to murder one of his three victims in Bradford.

Armed police shot and killed Shildon man Keith Richards in May 2009 when he fired a crossbow at officers in Cheapside.

The father-of-two was heavily intoxicated, worried about debt and fearful that a drink-driving conviction would ruin his life, causing him to remonstrate with police from a bedroom window.

An organised crime gang from Newcastle who were storing an arsenal of weapons, including six airguns, 90 knives, half a dozen axes, knuckle dusters and crossbows were jailed for their crimes in October last year for a total of 16-and-a-half years.

During a five-month surveillance operation of an addresses used by the gang in Newcastle, police saw 6,500 customers turning up to be sold cocaine.

And in June 2015, armed police shut down a York street when a man threatened two passers-by with a crossbow.

Officers clad in black with automatic rifles were called to Tuke Avenue, in Tang Hall, in June 2015.

A home was searched and crossbows and related weaponry were seized by the officers.

Despite this and the damage they are known to have done, buyers only have to be 18 or over to get one and users only break the law if they use them outside of a club or away from private land.

There is no need for background checks, but potential buyers can be turned away if staff do not feel comfortable selling the items.

According to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request, only seven people have been arrested for possessing or firing a crossbow by Durham Constabulary since 2013.

Northumbria Police has dealt with eleven cases since 2008.

Merlin Archery has a store in Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland, and sells a range of full size crossbows and pistol crossbows.

According to the shop's website, "On some of the crossbows, the power is so great that cocking the string should be an Olympic event."

It also boats how its range of pistol crossbows is "small and cheap, but they pack a punch!"

"These are age restricted (18 years or older) and must be used with extreme caution! Not suitable for children. Not suitable for some adults, come to think of it.

"But if used responsibly they are great fun."

Oliver Clayton-Smith, from Merlin Archery, said crossbows sell steadily throughout the week and are popular with men and women aged between 30 and 45-years-old.

He said: "There's no denying they are dangerous.

"There's an age restriction which helps a little, but it's difficult because they are classed as sporting goods.

"In theory there's no difference between the bow and a crossbow, the main difference being a crossbow is much easier to use because it has a sight and you pull a trigger.

Mr Clayton-Smith explained staff do everything they can to stop crossbows falling into the wrong hands, but they have limited powers and often rely on their discretion to stop buyers who they suspect have malicious reasons for buying one.

"The law is fairly lax because this is sporting equipment and anyone over 18 can simply get one and take it home," he added.

"If they come in store we check their driving licence or passport and if someone cannot produce that we don't sell them.

"The same kind of process happens online.

"If someone wants an age-related product we send them an e-mail and ask for a copy of their ID.

"Occasionally people are turned away and that's down to professional discretion.

"If someone comes in and tells me they want to go into the woods and get rats, that's illegal even though they are vermin.

"It's illegal to hunt or kill with any sort of bow and if people tell us that's what they are using it for we turn them away."

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said they will dispose of crossbows if they are seized or handed in, but they are not subject to the same laws as firearms of explosives.

She added: "We would encourage members of the public to contact police if they believe crossbows are being used as weapons by calling 101."

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Violent incidents involving crossbows are extremely rare in the Northumbria area as highlighted by the fact there have only been 11 people arrested in nine years in the for associated offences.

"It is not illegal to own, buy or sell a crossbow however owners have a duty to act responsibly.

"We take any reports of inappropriate use of a crossbow seriously and they should be reported to police."