A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our priority is keeping people safe. That is why we are introducing stronger controls for crossbows, including a licensing scheme for existing owners and a ban on sales, so we can prevent serious harm before it happens.
“We will consult on the detailed arrangements, but we expect current owners will be able to keep their crossbow if they apply for a licence and meet the necessary safety checks.
“These measures are about protecting lives and ensuring our communities are safer.”
Sugden launched her campaign for a licensing system with police checks in April 2021, when an inquest jury in Hull concluded her partner was unlawfully killed by 55-year-old Anthony Lawrence in their home in Southburn, near Driffield, on 12 January 2018.
At the time of the attack, she confronted the next-door neighbour, who had broken in via the loft and laid in wait for the pair.
Sugden escaped to get help and Lawrence was later found dead in a motor home in the North York Moors.
