Mayor calls for tougher crossbow laws

The mayor of West Yorkshire has said she supports calls for tougher rules around the sale of crossbows following an attack in Leeds.

Labour's Tracy Brabin has been answering questions on Message the Mayor on BBC Radio Leeds.

She also spoke about the local election results and a recent Supreme Court ruling that legally the term "woman" means a biological woman.

Read our takeaways from the show below or listen to the full interview here.

"I'm absolutely shocked and appalled that someone would take it upon themselves to attack two women," Brabin said.

"Obviously he was unwell himself and he's lost his life as well. But I would want to reassure members of the public that this was an isolated incident."

Brabin praised the police for how they responded to a recent attack on two women in Headingley, and said the investigation was continuing.

"It's quite easy to purchase one. We need to clampdown on that.

"Let's work together to clarify where government are, to make the case, press for clarity on when we are going to hear."

Following the Headingley attack, the government said it was committed to bringing in tougher rules on the sale of crossbows, but the mayor said creating new laws would take time.

Currently, it is legal to buy and own crossbows under certain circumstances.

"Legally we now understand what the position is. My role as mayor is to lead an organisation that is fully inclusive and nothing has changed from where I sit.

"But we also now have a legal clarity and understanding particularly around shared spaces, toilets, in my organisation. And I am looking forward to further guidance coming out."

Brabin was asked for her reaction to last month's Supreme Court ruling stating that the term "woman" means a biological woman.

"It's going to be different. I've always said being a mayor is place over politics. So I really hope they want to work with us as a group of mayors.

"I would suggest being a mayor is not about party political campaigning it's about delivery."

Reform UK won two northern mayoral elections, in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire, on 1 May 2025.