Support continues to be available nearly two years on from Keyham shootings
Victim Support say their services are there if and when people need them
Last updated 11th Aug 2023
Support continues to be available for anyone impacted by the shootings in Keyham, nearly two years on.
Five people were killed and two were injured by gunman Jake Davison on 12 August 2021, before he turned the shotgun on himself.
Since then, Victim Support have provided information and support to those affected by the attacks and they continue to help those directly and indirectly connected to the incident.
They say the impact of the event will last for a long time, adding that support services are there if and when people need them.
Heather Welch is their Area Manager for Devon and Cornwall. She tells us there’s no time limit on the help they can give:
“We understand that even months and years on from such an impactful experience as this, it’s going to affect people and it will affect how they respond to fresh challenges and traumas in their life as they move forward; as well as how they manage the effect of previous traumatic experiences that happened before the shootings.
“So, in the same way as for any crime, our services are open to people. It doesn't matter how long in the future someone wants to talk about what happened and how it's impacted them. Our doors are open because it can have an impact for a long time.”
As well as 24/7 support over the phone and online, Victim Support also have information guides on a virtual platform called My Support Space and there is one on there specifically for Keyham.
As we approach two years since the incident, Heather says anniversaries can be very challenging times.
She says if you need help to reach out: “The most important thing for us is making sure there is no wrong door for anyone, so that no one falls between the cracks.
“I think something that we've learned through this experience is that sometimes people assume that there's someone out there that needs the service more than they do, or that's entitled to the service more than they are - particularly if they didn't know anyone who was directly affected. I really would say that's not the case. If someone contacts us for support, they are not taking the place of someone who is more worthy, we're here for everyone.”
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has praised the response of the people of Plymouth nearly two years on from the incident.
Alison Hernandez said: “I want to say well done to everybody who has been just incredible in rolling their sleeves up, in helping people and helping each other. Whether that's public sector organisations, statutory agencies, volunteers in the community, everybody really rolled their sleeves up to help and be by the side of the community of Keyham when that happened.
“I think it will be in all of our minds going forward because all of us who've been involved - whether that was trying to help the community in the immediate aftermath, or in the longer term as those children that have been effected grow up - it will always be a part of us.
“My condolences go out to the families directly affected; it's got to have been one of the hardest things to have ever dealt with. We all struggled in the public services, our volunteers struggled, and we couldn't even imagine how the families must have struggled, so I hope that they're okay as we move forward two years later and they start to rebuild their lives.”
Victim Support can be contacted free of charge on their 24/7 Supportline on 08 08 16 89 111, or people can in get in touch online.