Plymouth MP says we need to prevent Keyham shooting tragedy being repeated
Five people were killed and two were injured in August 2021
Last updated 10th Aug 2023
A Plymouth MP says we need to make sure a tragedy like the Keyham shootings never happens again.
On 12 August 2021, five people were killed and two were injured by gunman Jake Davison before he turned the shotgun on himself.
An inquest was held earlier this year, which found all five victims were "unlawfully killed".
A coroner made a series of recommendations following the hearings but the Government fell short of accepting them all.
Ian Arrow, Senior Coroner for Plymouth and South Devon, called for the legislative distinction between Section 1 firearms, such as rifles, and shotguns to be ended.
He also raised concerns around Home Office guidance provided to police forces applying the Firearms Act legislation, the training offered to police staff assessing licence applications and training given to judges hearing licence appeals.
Home Office Minister Chris Philp said the Government would launch a consultation into firearms licensing, but stopped short of accepting the coroner's calls for gun law reform.
Nearly two years on, Labour's Luke Pollard, for Sutton and Devonport, tells us he's "frustrated" that we "haven't yet got the root and branch reform of gun laws":
"If we don't get that, there's a risk that what we saw in Plymouth could be repeated elsewhere.
"The coroner did an amazing job in reviewing all the evidence as to why the shooting took place, what were the motivations behind the person that pulled the trigger, and produced a really professional and comprehensive set of recommendations designed to prevent future deaths.
"I think the Government should have adopted all of the coroner's recommendations - they chose not to, they chose to ignore a number of them. Now that was frustrating but the ones that they did accept, we now need to make sure they implement them.
"It’s not everything that we wanted of course but it's something and I think the journey towards better gun laws won't be achieved in one simple step."
Last month a review into firearms licensing at Devon and Cornwall Police was published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
They found the force had made "significant progress" since the shootings but improvements are still required.
A spokesperson for the Gun Control Network said: "We're pleased to see that following the incidents in Plymouth that Constabularies have been reviewing their licensees and as a result of that, there's been an increased number of licences revoked - but there's still very much more to be done.
"The way to ensure that these tragic shootings don't continue, is to change legislation."
In a previous statement, Mr Philp said: "Shotguns are already subject to significant controls, and they are important in helping farmers control vermin on their land, as well as being used in a variety of rural pursuits.
"We will keep this under review, but we are currently of the view that additional controls on shotguns are unnecessary and would have a negative impact on their legitimate use."
A Government consultation on recommendations made to the Home Office for changes to the legislation on firearms licensing is currently underway.
Ministers say they will "carefully consider all views received" on the various recommendations. They say that public safety is their "priority", but add "the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with the fact that the vast majority of licensed firearms holders are law abiding and cause no concern".