Police made 'indefensible’ decision to award shotgun licence

'A dangerous shambles which failed to protect the public'

That was how the officer who assessed Jake Davison's shotgun license today described Devon and Cornwall Police – who admitted the decision to ‘place a weapon in the hands of that man’ was ‘indefensible’.

The ongoing inquest into the five people killed in Plymouth in August 2021 has been hearing from former firearms enquiry officer David Rees in his second day of evidence.

He's told the jury it was the 'wrong' decision to award a shotgun with hindsight and admitted the force's ‘omissions posed a danger to the public’.

Mr Rees today admitted he did not delve deeper into some potential red flags – including mental health assessments of Davison, a past desire to be a ‘sniper and previous violence.

Mr Rees said he accepted, while he took the unusual step of filling out a form 57 to highlight the case concerns to a superior, he only carried out the 'appearance of proper investigation'.

The jury were today shown CCTV footage of Davison carrying out what the inquest heard described as a 'brutal' attack.

The jury were told Davison 'reacts explosively' in the footage - with multiple heavy blows to one person, even when they're on the ground, then swings at a second and hits a female.

The jury did not hear any audio of what caused Davison - who was walking past a Plymouth skatepark at the time - to change direction and carry out the attack.

Mr Rees was asked: "Any decision to place a weapon in the hands of that man in the light of that evidence would be indefensible - do you agree?"

The response was: "Yes I agree."

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