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

The constabulary section that returned a shotgun licence to a antheral who carried retired a wide shooting did not person capable staff, an inquest has heard.

Jake Davison had his licence revoked successful 2020 but constabulary returned it successful 2021.

Davison, 22, killed his parent Maxine, 51, and past changeable dormant 4 others successful Plymouth.

Three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father, Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, each died connected the evening of 12 August 2021.

Thursday was the 3rd time of inquests being held into their deaths.

A elder constabulary serviceman told the proceeding determination had been a backlog of licence applications erstwhile Davison archetypal applied successful 2017.

Ch Supt Roy Linden, from Devon and Cornwall Police, was questioned astir the fig of applications for firearms oregon shotgun licences.

He said successful 2017 determination were astir 3,000 applications per twelvemonth and the unit had the highest fig of holders of certificates for firearms oregon shotguns successful the UK.

The counsel to the inquest, Bridget Dolan KC, who is asking questions connected behalf of the coroner, said: "Were determination capable unit to woody with 3,000 applications?"

Ch Supt Linden replied: "The elemental reply is no."

He said determination was a backlog of applications wrong Devon and Cornwall Police, but the unit was not unsocial successful the country.

Ch Supt Linden added the occupation had lone got worse implicit time.

He told the inquest: "It's inactive the information today, I deliberation they person astir apt increased."

Before helium gave grounds Ch Supt Linden addressed the families of the victims.

He said the unit "recognises the trauma that has been caused by this incident".

He added: "It's our volition that this tragic incidental volition service to thrust improvements successful firearms licencing some successful Devon and Cornwall and nationally."

The inquest proceeding astatine Exeter Racecourse continues.