Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has considered age restrictions on the sale of catapults and slingshots.

The Government shares the concern about the use of catapults against wildlife, people or property. We are aware of catapults being an issue in some areas of the country, and there are a range of laws in place that can be used against individuals who use catapults in this way.

Where a catapult is used to harm animals, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 provide the police with powers to deal with deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife. It is also an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal any unnecessary suffering.

Under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to four years in prison. The definition of an ‘offensive weapon’ may include a catapult depending on the circumstances of the case.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 also provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour including that involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices (CPWs and CPNs), and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be used to prevent behaviour that is having, or likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. Through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, we have increased the upper limit for a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for breaches of a PSPO or a CPN from £100 to £500 and this will come into force from 26 October 2026.

A roundtable was held in June this year with Members of Parliament and stakeholders to discuss the misuse of catapults. The Government is now working with the police to ensure that existing legislation is used consistently and effectively. We have noted the proposals for new restrictions, including age restrictions on the sale of catapults, and we are actively considering what more might be done around enforcement.