12,000 people in Derbyshire have a firearms licence

AS ministers pledge to review gun laws following the Plymouth mass shooting, figures reveal more than 12,000 people across Derbyshire hold a licence for a shotgun or other firearm.

Jake Davison, 22, shot and killed five people, including his own mother and a three-year-old girl in Keyham, Plymouth, during the evening of Thursday before taking his own life.

Davison was a licensed gun holder, and had his firearm returned to him by police weeks before the shooting spree, after it was taken away last December following an assault allegation.

All police forces across England and Wales are being asked to urgently review their practices around granting firearms certificates in the wake of the attack.

Home Office figures show 12,255 people in the area covered by Derbyshire Constabulary held a similar firearm or shotgun certificate – or both – at the end of March. That was down from 12,567 a year earlier.

Anyone who acquires or owns a firearm or shotgun must hold a certificate issued by the chief officer of the police force area where they live, unless they are exempt. The chief officer must be satisfied the applicant has a good reason for having the firearm, they are fit to be entrusted with one, and public safety or peace will not be endangered.

Firearm and shotgun certificates are valid for five years.

Following the attack, a Home Office source said the department will publish new guidance to improve how people applying for a firearms licence are assessed, including social media checks.

At the end of March, 11,535 (94%) of people across Derbyshire who held a licence for a firearm or shotgun were men.

The firearm certificates in Derbyshire covered weapons including 8,328 rifles, 188 handguns, and 174 muzzle-loading handguns, which are loaded from the open end of the gun’s barrel. They also covered 429 “Section 1” shotguns, which have magazines holding more than two rounds. Those covered by shotgun certificates included 30,824 “Section 2” shotguns, which may have a magazine restricted to no more than two rounds.

In Derbyshire in 2020-21, 419 new firearm or shotgun certificate applications were granted, while 19 were refused. A further 2,475 renewals were granted and nine refused, while 37 certificates were revoked. Derbyshire has a higher than average rate of gun ownership. Licences cover 45,566 shotguns and other firearms in the area, which works out as 43 for every 1,000 people, compared to 34 guns for every 1,000 people across England and Wales.

A Derbyshire Constabulary spokesman said: “Firearms licensing is tightly controlled and, where there is information to suggest that a person may not be suitable to continue holding a licence, then that weapon may be seized and further work completed to check if the person is still fit to hold the licence.

“There are a number of contributing factors for the higher number of licences held in Derbyshire. Firstly, the county has a large farming community which use firearms as part of their day-to-day work. Secondly, there are a large number of contracted workers who shoot on farm land in order to control vermin.

“Finally, the county has a significant number of gun clubs. Members of such clubs are likely to have a number of firearms to use in different types of club activities.

“The criminal use of firearms in Derbyshire is very rare, and the number of licenced firearms used in such offences is an even rarer occurrence.”