Top cop ‘sorry’ for allowing Plymouth shooter to legally own a firearm

A SENIOR police officer has apologised for allowing one of Britain’s worst mass shooters to legally own a firearm.

Chief Supt Roy Linden told an inquest that Jake Davison — who killed five people in August 2021 — should never have been given a gun licence.

And he said it was the “wrong” decision for Devon and Cornwall Police to return Davison’s licence after it had been confiscated for a brutal attack on two teens in September 2020.

He said: "Jake Davison should not have had a licence.

"It should not have been given back to him.

"For that we very much apologise, it should not have happened."

Less than a year later, Davison, 22, of Plymouth, went on a murderous rampage on the streets of his home town.

He killed five people, including a three-year-old girl, before turning the gun on himself.

Chief Supt Linden added: "The interpretations and guidance was not what it should have been.

";It was quite clear looking back at this case, there was an overly optimistic tolerance to risk."

Chief Supt Linden went on to say changes to processes had been made following a review.

He added: "If it had been referred to a senior manager, it is unlikely that the licence would have been given.

"If that had come in front of us today, it would absolutely not be granted with the new leadership structure and process in place."

The inquests at Exeter Racecourse continues.