IOPC issues gross misconduct notice over Plymouth shooter's access to gun
The watchdog is trying to understand how Jake Davison, who killed five people in August, was legally allowed to have a firearm
Last updated 7th Oct 2021
An officer and a member of staff at Devon and Cornwall Police are both being investigated over how Plymouth shooter Jake Davison came to legally own a gun.
The 22-year-old fatally shot five people in Keyham in August, including his own mother and a three-year-old girl, before turning the gun on himself.
It later emerged Davison had a firearm and license taken away, but returned a month before the fatal attack.
A statement has now been released by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) with an update on their investigation into how that came to happen.
"IOPC staff have met with the Home Office licensing team, the Police and Crime Commissioner and local MP and informed them of the investigative areas we are focussing on", it reads.
"We will also be meeting with community representatives in the coming weeks.
"Investigators have been assessing the conduct of Devon & Cornwall Police employees directly involved in processing and checking Jake Davison’s original application for a shotgun certificate in 2017, as well as the handling of the assault by Mr Davison on two youths in September 2020, and the decision to return the weapon to him in July this year.
"After reviewing information obtained so far, we have now issued a gross misconduct notice to a member of police staff and a misconduct notice to a police officer".
The statement goes on to say that while the notices mean the conduct of the two individuals will be investigated, disciplinary proceedings will not necessarily follow.
"We are investigating the police staff member’s handling of Mr Davison’s original application for a shotgun certificate in July 2017, as well as their decision to return Mr Davison’s shotgun and shotgun certificate in July this year.
"The police officer was responsible for investigating the assaults admitted by Mr Davison in 2020.
"We are investigating whether they shared information appropriately with the force Firearms and Explosives Licensing Department regarding Mr Davison’s involvement in a violent offence, and whether they took appropriate steps to seize the shotgun certificate, shotgun, and ammunition from Mr Davison".
IOPC Regional Director David Ford says he offers his "heartfelt sympathies" to everyone affected by the shooting.
"We still have significant investigative work to undertake but continue to make good progress with our enquiries", he said.
"We are reviewing a substantial amount of information gathered from Devon & Cornwall Police and elsewhere and the force has continued to co-operate fully with our independent investigation.
“We intend to complete our investigation before the end of this year.
"We will share any lessons that may be learned with the force and wider organisations as they emerge.
"At the conclusion of our investigation, we will decide whether any individual has a disciplinary case to answer.
"We expect to submit a final investigation report, which will set out our findings, to the Coroner and Devon & Cornwall Police in December".
Maxine Davison, Sophie Martyn, Lee Martyn, Stephen Washington and Kate Shephard were all killed in the shooting on August 12th.
Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Jim Nye reiterated that the force is cooperating with the IOPC.
“We acknowledge that the IOPC has served a police officer with a misconduct notice and a staff member with a gross misconduct notice, in relation to their involvement with Jake Davison", he said.
"The force is supporting our staff through this process.
“Our thoughts remain with all those affected by this tragic incident.
"Whilst the IOPC investigation continues, we have already complied fully with a national review of firearms licensing procedures, and commissioned an independent review of our own processes".