London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

UK to check gun owners' social media after Plymouth shootings

UK to check gun owners' social media after Plymouth shootings

British authorities announced the change in procedure following last week's mass shooting, the country's first in 10 years.

Police in the United Kingdom will now check the social media profiles of applicants for gun licenses after a man killed five people in the southwestern city of Plymouth last week.

The alleged perpetrator of the Plymouth shooting had his gun returned to him in July after his license was suspended for several months following a criminal charge for assault.

Jake Davison posted on his Facebook and YouTube accounts about his sympathy for the misogynist "incel" movement linked to previous violent attacks in the United States and Canada.

The UK government has asked police forces in England and Wales to review their procedures for issuing and returning firearms licences, as well as assessing whether it is necessary to revoke any licences already issued.

"New guidance" will be issued on new applications, including "a review of social networks", the UK's Home Office said in a statement on Monday.

No previous social media checks


Shaun Sawyer, chief constable for Devon and Cornwall police, told reporters on Friday that investigators were not sure what Davison's motive was.

“Let’s see what’s on his hard drive, let’s see what’s on his computer, let’s see what's on social media," Sawyer said.

In a July video posted on his now-deleted YouTube channel, Davison said he was “beaten down and defeated by...life”.

While saying he did not define himself an an incel - short for "involuntary celibate" - Davison complained about his love life and said incels were "people similar to me, they’ve had nothing but themselves, and then they’ve socially had it tough".

Mourners laid a tribute of balloons marked with the five victims' names


On Saturday, Sawyer told The Sun newspaper that officers had not previously monitored the digital presence of people who had their firearms licences returned to them as it would constitute an invasion of their privacy.

Police did not say whether the gun Davison was licenced to use was the one used in the shootings.

Police review


The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the body that oversees police complaints in England and Wales, said it would carry out a mandatory review of the incident.

"We will examine what police actions were taken and when, the rationale behind police decision-making, and whether relevant law, policy and procedures were followed concerning Mr Davison’s possession of a shotgun," IOPC regional director David Ford said.

"The investigation will also consider whether the force had any information concerning Mr Davison’s mental health and if so, if this information was appropriately considered".

According to local police, Davison killed his mother and four other people, including a 3-year-old girl, before taking his own life on Thursday.

The killings marked the first mass shooting in the UK in over a decade. Such mass shootings are rare in Britain, which has strict gun control laws and regulations.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×