Granting of firearms certificate - Dorset Police, April 2017

On 4 November 2016, a man completed an application for a firearms certificate and submitted the form to Dorset Police. Staff from the Firearms Licensing Unit completed routine checks on the man, which included a home visit and requesting information from his doctor.

On 27 January 2017, the man’s doctor informed the licensing unit that the man was being treated for alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis and had been advised to abstain. It was recorded that he was drinking 12 units of alcohol per week. The man confirmed that he was drinking alcohol and that this was being monitored by medical professionals.

On 13 April 2017, the man was granted, and issued with, a firearms certificate.

On 26 May 2017, the man was found dead at his home. He had a gunshot wound to his head and a .22 rifle between his legs.

Our investigators obtained accounts from the staff involved, reviewed the firearms application and enquiries form, and considered relevant national and local policies and procedures.

At the end of the investigation, based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that the performance of two members of police staff in the Firearms Licensing Unit had departed from the expected standards, but that this should not be characterised as misconduct. We suggested that management action would be appropriate, and advised that it should robustly reinforce the need to take great care in completing licensing paperwork and recording considerations and decisions due to the level of risk that arises from decisions made in this area of policing.

After reviewing our report, Dorset Police agreed with our findings and advised that both members of staff would receive management action.