Crossbow ban 'not enough', says Watford Women's Centre

The Watford Observer spoke to the Market Street charity, which helps women through a range of needs-led support including domestic abuse services, after the community was rocked by the killings on Tuesday (July 9). A crossbow was recovered as part of the investigation.

Kyle Clifford, 26, has been arrested on suspicion of three counts of murder after Carol Hunt, 61, and her two daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, were found fatally injured at a house in Ashlyn Close, Bushey.

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Pictures left on floral tributes at Ashlyn Close, Bushey. (Image: PA)

“It was an absolutely tragic situation, three women have lost their lives in horrific circumstances,” said Lucy Martin, CEO at the Watford centre – which also supports women in Bushey and other surrounding areas.

“Part of the work we do is making sure people feel safe in their lives and people should feel safe in their own homes.”

She added: “In the last couple of days there has been quite a lot of traction on the news about legislation in terms of crossbows, which is good, but it’s a much wider issue."

Watford Women's Centre. (Image: Watford Women's Centre)

The CEO said that measures to tackle violence against women and girls by changing attitudes are needed, including showing children what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like in schools and looking at the influences people are getting – particularly online.

People also need to “realise its everybody’s responsibility” to raise any concerns they have about people in the community, she added, and speak out against misogynistic attitudes “to make Watford and the surrounding towns a safer place to live”.

Watford Women's Centre. (Image: Watford Women's Centre)

Watford Women’s Centre can be contacted on 01923 816229 or 07514 648 829.

The charity says it is always happy to go into local schools and organisations to make sure staff and pupils understand the issues, such as consent, and their own role.

The End Violence Against Women Coalition echoed the local message, warning that “quick-fix” measures such as banning a weapon would not stop men intent on harming women.

Executive director Andrea Simon said: “The horrifying murders of Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt in their family home have once again put violence against women and girls on the public agenda.

Kyle Clifford. (Image: Herts Police)

“Our thoughts are with their surviving family members, community and all who are feeling the weight of the details being reported.

“Whenever we are confronted by shocking acts of male violence against women, there is a temptation to reach for ‘quick-fix’ measures like calls to ban a particular weapon, increasing CCTV coverage or providing more street lighting.

“But none of these measures will ever stop perpetrators intent on harming women, as they don’t get to the root cause of the issue, which is the normalisation of women’s inequality and the male entitlement, power and control it produces.”

(Top left)Hannah Hunt. (Bottom Left) Louise Hunt. (Right) John and Carol Hunt pictured in 2015. Images: Facebook, Hannah Hunt, Louise Hunt, Carol Hunt. (Image: Image: Facebook, Hannah Hunt, Louise Hunt, Carol Hunt.)