I think I've already mentioned on here (I keep forgetting what I've posted versus what I've just told my friend), that a lot of what happens in canon can't happen in the Washed Away au because of Ford being more responsible. However, that doesn't mean Ford is entirely responsible and so, a minor spoiler to show you all.
Ford still gives Mabel a crossbow in The Last Mabelcorn. Just, instead of saying,
"It's okay to give children weapons, right?" He says,
"You're old enough to have been trained to use weapons, right?"
Now, this is because he and Nimirylov trained Penni on how to use weapons. Ford doesn't realise that's not normal, even for Nimirylov's dimension, let alone in his.