Update from the Plymouth shootings inquest.

[GrahamK998]

Plymouth shootings: 'Not enough staff' to deal with gun licences

Jake Davison had his licence revoked in 2020 but police returned it in 2021 ahead of the shooting in Plymouth.

www.bbc.co.uk

Well, perhaps this will aid the argument to cut back on FLM activities that have no real risk reduction benefits, and to adequately resource teams...

 

[kes]

What an admission - we know its the case but to admit this under oath confirms D&C do not rate FL as very important - I hope the loved ones understand. Horse and stable door admission.
Why do some go for medical checks and others fail to process the most obvious revocations. Chief Constable - on your bike no pension.

 

[Jon P]

It is a tragedy that never should of happened, however it is good to see that at present it is looking like the Police are saying it is there failing, and not a failing in the legislation to do with firearms licensing. This however does nothing for the families who have lost loved ones.
Will be interesting to see the final outcome of the inquiry.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Full details of all the evidence advanced today Keyham police to give evidence on killer's fatal rampage
Some of it makes interesting reading
Weapon used was a Weatherby pump action shotgun that looks "tactical"

Cheers

Bruce

 

[pjkaz]

The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall retried last year.

 

[gonzo]

From the news report:
Chief Superintendent Roy Linden, of Devon and Cornwall Police, told the inquest police should have collected medical evidence about Davison when considering his application for a shotgun licence. He told the inquest: "Opinion should have been sought from a GP."
But also:
Davison's GP refused to provide an opinion to police assessing whether he should be issued with a shotgun certificate.

Familiar situation. The police are trying to pass on the decision making. GP's are often not qualified to make these calls,. Would need to be passed to specialists, which would be a private consultation, and under HO guidence the police would need to pay for it. Which they obviously don't want to do (and probably have no budget to do).

 

[308tikka]

What an admission - we know its the case but to admit this under oath confirms D&C do not rate FL as very important - I hope the loved ones understand.

so all that will happen is the full cost of appropriately manning a FL team will be passed to the shooters in that area.

Despite the fact there were plenty of uniformed police who should have been available over this time period.....

 

[gixer1]

Having observed first hand a person who had a shot gun cert revoked (due to a domestic disturbance) and then watched the 4 years long process of this person trying to get their guns back, and it being unsuccessful - even after the ex-spouse wrote a letter admitting fault for the domestic incident)

And this person had served queen and country for 16 years, without any other issues or prosecutions on their wrap sheet - I cannot believe that this lad was given his cert back after a year…..it just blows my mind that the same countries police divisions can have such wildly different approaches, and this is part of the problem with the system - there is too much room for differing interpretation and rule creation such as “you can only have. 243 initially” or “you need to have DSC1 before getting a firearm” etc.

The whole system needs a rework but I think we are all so concerned because we have no confidence they could successfully rework the system without messing it up and making it worse not better from all perspectives.

 

[Cyres]

I see Mr Linden said Devon and Cornwall had the most licensed firearms in the country. Where did that info come from as the latest government published data shows the date as per 100,000 people and D@C are not on the top for either firearms of shotguns.

Firearms D@C are in 7th place
Shotguns D@C are in 12th place.

Why arnt the various shooting organisations jumping all over D@C to get the FL team adequately staffed and fit for purpose?

D

 

[Mr. Gain]

So they had a backlog, but that doesn't explain why they set about reducing it by reducing scrutiny, rather than hiring more staff or -in what seems to be this country's national strategy- simply fettering the shooting community with endless delays in the hope it will either on the vine.

 

[Bowland blades]

What an admission - we know its the case but to admit this under oath confirms D&C do not rate FL as very important - I hope the loved ones understand. Horse and stable door admission.
Why do some go for medical checks and others fail to process the most obvious revocations. Chief Constable - on your bike no pension.

hey they cannot even take the pension of a copper who was moonlighting as a serial killer and is basically staying behind bars till death

 

[Bowland blades]

What industry would look at first is working smarter , Government owned always just beg for more money!

 

[Jh1986]

I can see them going for pumps/semi auto and certain shot sizes with this. He had a pump action, with pistol grip and SG cartridges. That'll be used for scaremongering due to its "assault style" look in the same way the media portrays things over in America.


I'm not really sure that this little bit about Exeter Racecourse is pertinent

 

[Franchi Matt]

Easier to blame an entire force, that way no one goes off sick with stress

Maybe THIS ll be the undoing of shooting as police dont have the staff so cant do it? Oh wait a mo - I see a white horse in the distance... being ridden by by BASC....

Don't panic chaps, we are saved.

 

[Bowland blades]

We seem to forget the simple fact the cops realised the guy was a Nut , but none the less gave him back his guns ! Once you get to that level it doesn't matter how much money you throw at it , leadership , management and recruitment is all wrong ( heads should roll )

 

[Bowland blades]

Easier to blame an entire force, that way no one goes off sick with stress

Maybe THIS ll be the undoing of shooting as police dont have the staff so cant do it? Oh wait a mo - I see a white horse in the distance... being ridden by by BASC....

Don't panic chaps, we are saved.

I wouldnt mind that but unfortunately, BASC take enough stick from their own side as it is . Can you imagine if they actually turned down folks how much they would be slated on places like this ? Got to be careful when kicking the ball to your own goalkeeper

 

[devon deer stalker]

I can see them going for pumps/semi auto and certain shot sizes with this. He had a pump action, with pistol grip and SG cartridges. That'll be used for scaremongering due to its "assault style" look in the same way the media portrays things over in America.

Take a look at this, Luke Pollard Plymouth MP, I believe it didn't get through due to lack of time, but the writing is on the wall.

Plymouth shooting: Law proposal to ban shotguns in homes

The bill follows a mass shooting in Plymouth, in August, when a gunman shot and killed five people.

www.bbc.co.uk

No doubt he will see another opportunity after the conclusion of the inquest, which is very harrowing, those poor innocent people.

 

[Klenchblaize]

The whole system needs a rework but I think we are all so concerned because we have no confidence they could successfully rework the system without messing it up and making it worse not better from all perspectives.

Very much so as I can just imagine all Constabularies being compelled to adopt something like:

No DSCL2 = No unaccompanied deerstalking.

K

 

[Pellet Pinger]

So just how many staff does it take for a firearms department to realise that a shotgun owner that has lost his rag to a point that he has had to attend an anger management course is a risk?
I cannot to this day believe anyone going through the system with that type of issue can be handed back their weapons within a matter of months let alone ever again!!

 

[Jh1986]

Take a look at this, Luke Pollard Plymouth MP, I believe it didn't get through due to lack of time, but the writing is on the wall.

Plymouth shooting: Law proposal to ban shotguns in homes

The bill follows a mass shooting in Plymouth, in August, when a gunman shot and killed five people.

www.bbc.co.uk

No doubt he will see another opportunity after the conclusion of the inquest, which is very harrowing, those poor innocent people.

Yet the London Bridge attack & Houses of Parliament attack, both used vehicles and knives. If guns are so easily falling into the wrong hands, and so deadly, then why are they not more readily used by those who have a specific desire to create the maximum amount of death in the shortest time possible.