Do I need to buy a crossbow?

[enfieldspares]

Saw this comment on P/Watch:

Can anyone enlighten me as to WHAT crossbows are legally used for ?

So I wrote this in reply:

Field archery competitions shooting lifelike targets of deer and wild boar etc. by law abiding people who enjoy simulating by walking a course set in a woodland of the type of hunting that our ancestors would perhaps have enjoyed when such as crossbows and longbows were commonplace. Or that which the Normans hadn't stolen from us! I'd add that I don't do it, have never wanted to do it and wouldn't do it if invited and it were free. But I'd also say EXACTLY the same about "simulated driven game days". So let's stop those as well because "I don't do it".

 

[sauer]

People kill people ....
We ban knives ....what will you cut your steak with ?
cars???.....driven at groups of people ..ban them?

Actions need consequences.... jails are full .... no problem bring back the birch or lashes Saudi style ..... that would create a deterrent for many crimes ..

If someone is fu*ked up enough in the head to decide to off someone or go into a home to do damage or maim then they will find and utilise a tool or weapon from some item....we can't go banning everything ...
Treat the problem not the symptoms ....in other words the c*nt hell bent on crime

Paul

 

[Sinistral]

Have I heard they are to banned? And that owners will need a licence?

If you did then stay off the comics.


Crime and Policing Bill - almost ready for the Royal Assent.

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3938

https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/65527/documents/8057

Crime and Policing Bill - Part 2 - Chapter 2 - Clauses 38-43
CROSSBOWS
No ban. Controls similar to those on the sale of knives & other bladed articles.
Starts on Page 51 (Page 65 of the PDF).

Crime and Policing Bill - Part 2 - Chapter 2 - Clause 46
MODERATORS
See page 79 (Page 93 of the PDF) for changes to Firearms Law.

 

[bowji john]

For those with experience of crossbows

Can you recommend something that could be used for target out to 75 or even 100m ?

Also one that might work in a field archery scenario

Both robust enough for frequent client use

J

 

[Smellydog]

If you did then stay off the comics.


Crime and Policing Bill - almost ready for the Royal Assent.

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3938

https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/65527/documents/8057

Crime and Policing Bill - Part 2 - Chapter 2 - Clauses 38-43
CROSSBOWS
No ban. Controls similar to those on the sale of knives & other bladed articles.
Starts on Page 51 (Page 65 of the PDF).

Crime and Policing Bill - Part 2 - Chapter 2 - Clause 46
MODERATORS
See page 79 (Page 93 of the PDF) for changes to Firearms Law.

Thank you.
Skipping through it's non person to person sales that are being banned.
Do I read that correctly?

 

[Taff]

Doubt it.

I shoot plenty of sika deer in thick forest using a Creedmoor. They tend not to go more than a few metres unless my shot placement is off.

Jez you are easy to wind up, I used a 243 for 20 + yrs, and I did not cry.

 

[Liveonce]

Thank you.
Skipping through it's non person to person sales that are being banned.
Do I read that correctly?

think that is the current changes, the proposals to ban them are as a consequence of the consultation just closed, so yet to be legislated for.

 

[Sinistral]

Thank you.
Skipping through it's non person to person sales that are being banned.
Do I read that correctly?

No.
From a cursory look the mail order of crossbows and knives will continue, but will be regularised with a paper trail.
If all sales or hiring were put on a collect-only basis, or face-to-face like firearms and ammunition the authorities would need to introduce some form of licensing which would entail admin and expense. The new legislation puts the onus on the supply chain, and costs nothing.

The contractual supply of crossbows by manufacturers to crossbow dealers will need specific secure dropoff arrangements, and a responsible or nominated person to receive them into the stores depot. As far as ordinary retail customers are concerned, these are just new controls on delivery by mail-order. Parcels with crossbows, or parts for them will have to be marked as such. RM/Parcelforce/private courier firms who are liable under the CPA will have to deliver these direct to the customer, take steps to verify his ID and age, and the like. I don't order crossbows or knives by post, so I'm going to wait for the Home Office Circular to explain the new regulations.

think that is the current changes, the proposals to ban them are as a consequence of the consultation just closed, so yet to be legislated for.

I don't think you're right on this as that's a major change at the Bill's final stage. Perhaps you'd post what you're referring to?

 

[enfieldspares]

It is confusing. The consultation was 2024 and the Bill referred to had nothing about crossbows when originally published in Fen 2025. By Feb 2026 it has provisions about crossbows which seem to have been put into the Bill at Committe Stage in May 2025.

Government new clause 69—Remote sale and letting of crossbows.

Government new clause 70—Delivery of crossbows.

Government new clause 71—Sale and delivery of crossbows: supplementary provision.

 

[Liveonce]

No.
From a cursory look the mail order of crossbows and knives will continue, but will be regularised with a paper trail.
If all sales or hiring were put on a collect-only basis, or face-to-face like firearms and ammunition the authorities would need to introduce some form of licensing which would entail admin and expense. The new legislation puts the onus on the supply chain, and costs nothing.

The contractual supply of crossbows by manufacturers to crossbow dealers will need specific secure dropoff arrangements, and a responsible or nominated person to receive them into the stores depot. As far as ordinary retail customers are concerned, these are just new controls on delivery by mail-order. Parcels with crossbows, or parts for them will have to be marked as such. RM/Parcelforce/private courier firms who are liable under the CPA will have to deliver these direct to the customer, take steps to verify his ID and age, and the like. I don't order crossbows or knives by post, so I'm going to wait for the Home Office Circular to explain the new regulations.

I don't think you're right on this as that's a major change at the Bill's final stage. Perhaps you'd post what you're referring to?

only the conclusion from the consultation

2.1 1. The government will, therefore, introduce further restrictions on crossbows through introducing a licensing scheme for existing crossbow owners, and we will consult on the details of the licensing scheme. In addition, the government will also prohibit the sale of crossbows. We will consult on how best such a ban might be achieved, and will set out more detail in the consultation, but we would anticipate that existing crossbow owners will be able to keep their crossbow provided they apply for a licence and pass the necessary suitability checks that a licensing scheme would require. We also plan to prohibit broadhead arrows as discussed in the call for evidence

 

[Sinistral]

only the conclusion from the consultation

2.1 1. The government will, therefore, introduce further restrictions on crossbows through introducing a licensing scheme for existing crossbow owners, and we will consult on the details of the licensing scheme. In addition, the government will also prohibit the sale of crossbows. We will consult on how best such a ban might be achieved, and will set out more detail in the consultation, but we would anticipate that existing crossbow owners will be able to keep their crossbow provided they apply for a licence and pass the necessary suitability checks that a licensing scheme would require. We also plan to prohibit broadhead arrows as discussed in the call for evidence

Evidently the Home Office backtracked on the licensing idea.

Controls on crossbows were tacked on to the Policing and Crime Bill on 14th May 2025 (Bill 235 2024-25) after its 1st Reading on 25th February 2025.
The new clauses 31-33 added are more or less a cut-and-paste of the preceding clauses 28-29 on the control of knives.

Removal of moderators was added as Clause 46 on 18th March 2026 (HL Bill 180, now the current version).

You can track and view the changes by date on this page:-

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3938/publications

 

[Scarpa]

A ban on broadheads will also affect people who travel to bow hunt in countries where it is legal.