Gun licensing process a ‘postcode lottery’, report says
The report was launched after Jake Davison killed his mother Maxine and shot dead four others in the Keyham area of Plymouth in 2021
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said lessons needed to be learned from the killings in Keyham – which is part of his constituency – to prevent similar events.
“For five years, I’ve been campaigning with the Keyham families to strengthen Britain’s gun laws,” he said.
“I am encouraged that HMICFRS is echoing our proposal to completely overhaul firearms licensing legislation.
“Public safety must come first. I will continue to campaign and work with ministers in parliament for these proposals to become law.”
Mark Edwards, a committee member at the National Firearms Association, said the current legislation was “dated, complicated and open for misinterpretation”.
“I fully agree it needs to be reviewed and should have been done 10 years ago,” he said.
However, Edwards said the legislation was “robust” in terms of who could hold a firearm.
Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper said the force welcomed the findings from the inspection.
“While the force was not one of those engaged with by the inspectorate, we continue to ensure that the granting of firearms licences across Devon and Cornwall is undertaken with the utmost diligence,” Leaper said.
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