Government 'dragging its feet' on changes to 'outdated' gun laws, says Plymouth MP

Police at the entrance of Biddick Drive, Keyham on Thursday August 12,
Police at the entrance of Biddick Drive, Keyham on Thursday August 12, -Credit:Carl Eve


A Plymouth MP who has supported families of the victims of the Keyham shootings in August 2021 has said the Government has to stop "dragging its feet" or the country will face another tragedy.

In June, Crime and Policing Minister Chris Philp said the Government would not be taking on board a number of recommendations put forward by Plymouth's senior coroner Ian Arrow, claiming "shotguns are already subject to significant controls" and that further changes to the Firearms Act were "unnecessary" and have a "negative impact" on their legitimate use by farmers and those involved in "rural pursuits".

He wrote that the Government had given "careful consideration to the recommendations" but while public safety was "of course, our chief concern" it was "also right that our approach should reflect the fact that the vast majority of licensed firearms holders are law abiding and cause no concern".

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Licenced shotgun holder Jake Davison killed his mother Maxine Davison, 51, three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father, Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, in the Keyham area of Plymouth on August 12, 2021. Mr Arrow, following a detailed five week long inquest, made a series of recommendations in his Prevention of Future Deaths report, including changes to the 1968 Firearms Act which would attempt to tighten up gaps in the law.

However, in response Mr Philp chose to launch an eight-week public consultation - over the summer holidays - supposedly concluding in late August 2023. The move was heavily criticised by gun reform advocates Gun Control Network who said it was "predictable" that the government would "always prioritise the interests of shooters over public safety".

In January this year, four months after the consultation ended - and nearly a year after Plymouth's senior coroner Ian Arrow made his recommendations to prevent future deaths - PlymouthLive asked the Home Office if Crime Minister Chris Philp, Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, had plans to make a statement on progress of the consultation. In response, the Home Office said it was still considering the outcomes of the consultation and would publish the Government's response "in due course".

Photo issued by Plymouth HM Coroner of a photo of Weatherby pump action shotgun (top) used by Jake Davison next to a police issue tactical single barrel 12-gauge pump action shotgun (below) shown in the inquest into the deaths of five people shot dead by Jake Davison -Credit:PA
Photo issued by Plymouth HM Coroner of a photo of Weatherby pump action shotgun (top) used by Jake Davison next to a police issue tactical single barrel 12-gauge pump action shotgun (below) shown in the inquest into the deaths of five people shot dead by Jake Davison -Credit:PA

It has now been revealed that last month Pete Whishart, MP and chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee wrote to Mr Philp, similarly asking about the progress of the consultation.

He explained how the Scottish Affairs Committee published its own report on firearms licensing regulations in Scotland in December 2022.

He wrote: "In response to our report, as well as the outcomes of the Prevention of Future Deaths reports issued by the Senior Coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon and the report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), both following the fatal shootings in Keyham, Plymouth in August 2021, the Home Office launched a consultation on the recommendations made by my Committee, the Senior Coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon and the IOPC [Independent Office of Police Conduct].

"The consultation closed in August 2023 and, to date, no outcome from the consultation has been published. I understand Ministers are currently considering the consultation responses, and that the Government expects to publish its response 'shortly'.

"I would like to take the opportunity to stress the importance of this consultation reaching a conclusion as soon as possible – particularly given the impending General Election. It is imperative that no further time is wasted before we learn lessons and take action to strengthen the controls on access to firearms in order to prevent the devastating shootings we have seen in recent years.

"With that in mind, I would be grateful if you could provide further specific details on when we can expect to see an outcome from the consultation. I would also be grateful if you could outline the reasons why we have not seen progress on this important issue to date."

In reply, the Crime Minister said that the recommendations made to the Home Office "were about reducing the risks that lawful ownership and use of firearms can present."

He claimed: "Public safety is our key priority, but measures to manage the risks to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with the fact that the vast majority of those who are licensed to possess and use firearms are law abiding and cause no concern.

A police cordon near the scene of the Keyham shooting in Plymouth on August 12, 2021.
View of Henderson Place and flats on August 12, 2021 -Credit:Carl Eve/PlymouthLive

"Ministers have been considering the wide range of views that were provided through the consultation and this has been done in parallel with other work on firearms licensing, including looking at the increase in fees for a firearms certificate or renewal. I am also consulting with Ministerial colleagues across Government on the outcomes of the consultation and proposals for change and, once this has been done, we will be in a position to publish the Government response.

"I am afraid I cannot give an exact timescale for this but I have asked my officials to let the Clerk of your Committee know when the Government response will be published in Parliament."

In October 2023 it was revealed that during a fringe meeting of the Conservative Autumn Conference, the then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Therese Coffey let slip to the BASC [British Association for Shooting and Conservation] that she had been instrumental in stopping the recommended changes to the gun laws.

She explained: "Shooting is really important to the countryside. It matters a lot and I can assure you that Conservatives are on your side to the point that for example, I appreciate their are journalists in the room, so we'll see how this gets reported, but understandably, there's been some serious incidents with shotguns in parts of the country and in Plymouth and other areas like that.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey -Credit:PA

"So there was a potential reaction that would have made it much harder for you to have shotguns and I stopped it- I stopped that. It is about having a sensible partnership on this approach recognising of course the police need to do their jobs well but also... I want to trust you. I do trust you because the future of the countryside is in your hands."

In response to the latest statement from the Crime Minister, Luke Pollard MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said: "If we are to stop another tragedy like we saw in Keyham we must learn the painful lessons. The Government is dragging its feet on these common sense changes to our outdated gun laws.

"I worry that they're going so slow we won't see any movement before a General Election, and that's a deliberate decision by Ministers."

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