Crossbow attack ends with nine-year sentence

A crossbow attack in Downley left PC Curtis Foster injured and led to the nine-year sentence of attacker Jason King.

Crossbow attack ends with nine-year sentence

Jason King, 54, fired a crossbow at PC Curtis Foster during an altercation in Downley, Wycombe, in May last year, injuring the officer in the leg as he and a second unarmed officer chased King. King also fired at a police dog but missed. After the incident, officers and paramedics treated Foster; he later recovered from serious injuries. King pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, grievous bodily harm, affray, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article in a public place, and was sentenced to nine years in Amersham. Two other charges were left on file. A referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct followed the police shooting and its investigation.

The case highlights the real danger frontline officers face in rural towns when armed suspects appear in public spaces. The crossbow, a readily accessible weapon, shifts the balance of risk in everyday policing and tests how quickly officers can switch from pursuit to safety measures. The sentence signals a clear statement from the justice system about the severity of using improvised weapons against police. Yet it also invites scrutiny of how the public is protected and how resources are allocated to prevent such incidents. The IOPC findings add a layer of accountability, stressing that the process aims to support both victims and officers while maintaining public trust. The community reaction will be a crucial part of the aftermath, shaping how local policing is funded and organized in the years ahead.

Highlights

The case underlines how danger in everyday policing can emerge from unexpected weapons.