Ministers are looking "very carefully" at new laws to outlaw crossbows after yesterday's horrifying triple killing in Bushey.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is weighing up whether the weapons should be banned following the killings of Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28. The Government faces calls to bring in licences similar to those required by gun owners.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis told Sky News he was "beyond devastated" by the violent deaths in Hertfordshire. He said Ms Cooper is "looking at this literally as we speak".
At the moment it is only illegal to buy a crossbow if you're under 18, and there is no need to have a licence. However people can be jailed for up for four years for carrying one in public without "reasonable excuse".
In February the Home Office launched an eight-week consultation on laws around the weapons. Former Victims' Commissioner Baroness Casey said it would be "breathtakingly straightforward" for the Government to commit to a ban.
She said: "In 2021 somebody got into the Queen's residence with a crossbow. Between 2021 and 2024 the then-Home Secretaries pondered whether they should do something about crossbows." The crossbench peer continued: "It would be breathtakingly straightforward for this new Government to have said 'yes we're going to ban all crossbows for over 18 year olds'. The thing about crime is you always have to keep up with criminals. If criminals are now using crossbows even in limited numbers we should licence them.
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"To any person in the street the idea you can go out and buy a crossbow and go out and use it is crazy and therefore we should licence it and that should be done in this first Parliament."
Mr Jarvis said: "The Home Office initiated a call for evidence with regard to crossbows earlier on in this year. The Home Secretary will look very carefully at the evidence, and if she decides that there is a need for legislative change, then that is what will happen. We will not stop at anything to ensure that the public is safe, and the Home Secretary will look and consider these matters very carefully."
Interviewer Kay Burley asked: "Why would you need a crossbow unless it was for some sort of sport? I mean, you can't just wrap it in a sheet and walk it with it under your arm around the streets of the UK."
Mr Jarvis responded: "Well, indeed, I completely agree. And that is why the Home Secretary will look very carefully at what's happened. She will look very carefully. Well, I know that the Home Secretary is looking at this literally as we speak."
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He said Ms Cooper would be looking at the results of a Home Office call for evidence before making a decision. Mr Jarvis stated: "She will want to consider that evidence in the round. She'll want to look clearly, very carefully at what happened yesterday."
He went on: I know that the Home Secretary is seized by the importance of all of this, but she's got to consider these matters in the round. She will take a view as to whether there is a requirement to make legislative changes. And I know that she will do that incredibly thoroughly."
Hertfordshire Police said 26-year-old Kyle Clifford has been arrested in connection with the triple killing. He was found in the Enfield area of north London, near his home, and that he is receiving medical treatment for his injuries.