Scala has been supporting Laura Sugden and her solicitor, Gemma Vine (Ison Harrison) since April 2021 with their campaign to change crossbow laws. Following the incident at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day, please find below a media release on the subject on crossbow laws.
MEDIA RELEASE ON BEHALF OF LAURA SUGDEN AND GEMMA VINE (ISON HARRISON SOLICITORS)
On the 12th January 2018, Shane Gilmer and his girlfriend, Laura Sugden, were both attacked by their neighbour with a crossbow. Shane tragically died from his horrific injuries, but Laura and her unborn child survived.
Since Shane’s inquest verdict (16th April 2021 – Hull Coroners Court) Laura, with the support of her legal team (Gemma Vine, Ison Harrison) have been campaigning for a change to the law governing the sale, purchase and possession of crossbows.
A copy of their campaign document can be found here.
As recently as 20 May 2021, in response to an online parliamentary petition (signed by over 42,000 people) calling for a review of crossbow laws, the government made it clear that they had “no plans to legislate further” because they believed ”the laws around crossbows strike the correct balance between protecting the public and allowing people to use crossbows for legitimate activities” and that incidents involving crossbows were “very rare” (a statement given with no evidence). The full government statement can be viewed here.
STATEMENT BY LAURA SUGDEN
“Firstly, my thoughts are with the Queen as it is truly the most horrific experience being attacked in your own home, so even the thought of it nearly happening is terrifying, especially when more so when that person is carrying such a barbaric, lethal weapon.
As you know, following the inquest I have made it my personal mission to persuade this Government to introduce or amend the law to restrict the sale, purchase and possession of a crossbow.
Our petition to change the law obtained over 42,000 signatures from the general public following the launch of my campaign and on 20 May 2021 the Government responded to state that they had no intention to legislate on this matter as they believed that the incidents where crossbows have been misused are “very rare”.
My legal team at Ison Harrison have been working behind the scenes over the past 7 months to gather data from every police force in the United Kingdom in order to consider whether these events are actually rare. They are in the process of putting this data together in order to submit a briefing to the Home Office to show that their original statement that incidents involving crossbows are rare is, quite simply, unfounded.
Although, I am of course delighted to hear that the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has now ordered a review of the current laws, I am saddened that Shane’s death and all of those deaths that came before and after his were not enough to instigate this review, and that it has taken this event involving the Queen for her to sit up and listen to what we have been trying to tell her for the past 8 months.”
STATEMENT BY GEMMA VINE, ISON HARRISON SOLICITORS
“The laws that govern the use of crossbows in the UK are woefully inadequate. In recent years there have been several high-profile murders, but still crossbows are readily available to purchase for as little as £100. They are powerful and life-endangering weapons that ought to require the same checks and licences as gun owners.
The Crossbows Act 1987 simply makes it an offence for crossbows to be bought by or sold to those under the age of 18. In contrast, the Firearms Act 1968 requires those wishing to possess a firearm or ammunition to be assessed by the police, and also restricts ownership in certain circumstances. These checks mean that members of the public are protected from potential misuse. Yet we do not know how many crossbows there are in circulation in the UK or in what circumstances they are held.
The incident at Windsor Castle involving a crossbow and alleged threat by the intruder to assassinate the Queen, must surely prompt a change in crossbow laws to help ensure that there are no more horrific attacks and deaths.”
