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The families of people killed during a mass shooting in Plymouth have said the gunman was granted a “licence to kill” after “warnings signs were ignored” by police.

The statement comes after a coroner ruled Jake Davison’s five victims were unlawfully killed.

Their relatives said the “system has hopelessly failed us” and Devon and Cornwall Police “in particular” were to blame for the deaths of their loved ones.

The families said there had been “breathtaking incompetence and systemic failings within every level of the firearms licensing unit” of Devon and Cornwall Police.

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‘The system has hopelessly failed us’

Davison, 22, shot his mother Maxine, 51, before killing three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father, Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, in August 2021 in the Keyham area of Plymouth.

He then turned the shotgun on himself as he was confronted by an unarmed police officer.

The attack, which took just eight minutes, was one of the worst mass shootings in UK history.

“It is beyond us how Davison, a man with a known history of violence, mental health issues, and with no real need to own a firearm, was granted a licence to possess a gun in the first place,” the family said in a statement released by their lawyers.

“Warning signs were ignored and a licence to kill was granted.”

The family statement comes after a jury inquest in Exeter heard nearly six weeks of evidence.

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CCTV shows Plymouth gunman attack teen

‘A consistent story of individual failings’

“Whilst today marks the end of this inquest, it will never mark the end of the pain for all of our families and loved ones,” the statement continued.

“Nothing will ever bring back Sophie, Lee, Stephen and Kate.

“On August 12 2021 our lives were changed forever. Our hearts are still incredibly heavy with grief, and we are still struggling to come to terms with our loss.

“We will never be able to understand or comprehend why Davison did what he did.

“It was an act of pure evil.

“However, we now know that this evil act was facilitated and enabled by a series of failings and incompetence from the people and organisations that are supposed to keep us safe.

“The system has hopelessly failed us. In particular, the Devon and Cornwall Police force has failed us.

“The evidence that we have heard during this inquest, over the past five weeks, is a consistent story of individual failures, breathtaking incompetence and systemic failings within every level of the firearms licensing unit of the Devon and Cornwall Police force.”

Read more: The warning signs that led to horror

Jake Davison repeatedly referred to "incels" in videos uploaded to YouTube
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Jake Davison shot five people dead before killing himself

The inquest heard how Davison, an apprentice crane operator who had been obsessed with guns from a young age, legally held a shotgun licence despite having a history of violence.

He was granted a certificate in 2018 and had declared his autism and Asperger’s when applying – but Davison’s GP refused to provide details when asked by police processing his application.

Later that year, Davison bought a black Weatherby pump-action shotgun which he kept at home.

Firearm returned five weeks before killings

In September 2020, he was captured on CCTV punching a teenage boy nine times in a skate park in Plymouth and slapping a 15-year-old girl after a boy shouted abuse at him.

Police investigating the assault did not know he was a firearms holder – unaware that “FC” on a police database meant “Firearms Certificate” – and put him on the deferred charge Pathfinder scheme instead of prosecution.

His shotgun was eventually seized two months later – but as he was deemed low risk it was returned just five weeks before the killings.

Undated handout photo issued by Plymouth HM Coroner of a photo of Weatherby pump action shotgun (top) used by Jake Davison next to a standard sporting style 12 - gauge over - under twin barrel shotgun (below) shown in the inquest into the deaths of five people shot dead by Jake Davison. Issue date: Thursday January 19, 2023.
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A photo of the Weatherby pump action shotgun (top) used by Jake Davison next to a standard sporting style

‘They failed to protect our loved ones’

The families of the victims added in their statement: “The evidence that we have heard from Devon and Cornwall Police was that of a system that was a shambles from the top to the bottom.

“Those in charge of making decisions as to who should possess a gun, had no training on how to do the job.

“There was no supervision of those individuals. There was no auditing of the decisions that were being made.

“There was a culture of granting people firearms licences against a background of serious concern. Davison’s case was a prime example.

“These systemic failings with Devon and Cornwall Police have failed to protect the public. They failed to protect our loved ones.

“We firmly believe that these failings at Devon and Cornwall Police have resulted in the deaths of our loved ones.

“Warning signs were ignored and a licence to kill was granted.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, has made a string of recommendations to Devon and Cornwall Police and to the Home Office for forces across the country in a bid to “strengthen firearms licensing controls” in the wake of the mass shooting.

None of the police officers or staff investigated over the handling of Davison’s gun licence will lose their jobs despite the inquest’s findings.

The IOPC said that one member of Devon and Cornwall police staff received a written warning, an officer retired in 2021 so cannot face disciplinary proceedings, and there was no case to answer for a second officer.

It pointed to wider failings in training and guidance in the force, rather than individuals being to blame.

Jake Davison

Police ‘truly sorry’ for failure

Will Kerr, chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, said after the inquest: “My thoughts and those of everyone within Devon and Cornwall Police remain with the families of those who died in, and survived, such tragic circumstances in August 2021.

“Devon and Cornwall Police has acknowledged that Jake Davison should never have been in possession of a shotgun licence.

“Steps should have been taken to safeguard our communities and for that failure I am truly sorry.”

The inquest jury said: “There was a catastrophic failure in the management of the firearms and explosives licensing unit, with a lack of managerial supervision, inadequate and ineffective leadership.

“This was compounded by a lack of senior management and executive leadership who failed to notice or address the issues.

“There was a lack of scrutiny and professional curiosity at all levels.”

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BAFTA TV Awards 2025: Nine stand-out moments from TV’s starriest night

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BAFTA TV Awards 2025: Nine stand-out moments from TV's starriest night

The biggest night in British TV, this year’s BAFTA TV Awards saw the golden masks handed out to a wide spread of shows – with the BBC’s Mr Loverman the only show to take home two awards.

Hosted by Scottish actor and presenter Alan Cumming, the night kicked off with a Traitors skit, before handing out 29 awards, interspersed with a live performance or two.

While Baby Reindeer had gone into the night the most nominated, it took just one prize, as did the much talked about Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. Meanwhile Rivals and Slow Horses, which had also been hotly tipped, went home empty-handed.

Here are some of the top moments from the 2025 TV BAFTAs.

Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning won her first BAFTA. Pic: BAFTA
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Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning won her first BAFTA. Pic: John Phillips/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

‘Hello cheeky chops!’

Jessica Gunning took the first prize of the evening, greeting her award with joyful: “Hello cheeky chops!”

Gunning, a first-time nominee, said Baby Reindeer had “changed my life”, reminiscing about her childhood playing make believe and inventing imaginary friends, never knowing she’d eventually end up using her dramatic skills to win a BAFTA.

More on Bafta

The role of Martha has already won her an Emmy, a SAG award and a Golden Globe in the US.

Gunning also wished her co-star and creator of Baby Reindeer Richard Gadd a happy birthday (his 36th), calling him “nipple”, a nickname her character Martha gave to Donny (Gadd’s character) in the show.

Toby Jones, Monica Dolan and Sir Alan Bates on stage with the limited drama award for Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. Pic: John Phillips/ Getty Images for BAFTA
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Cast and crew of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office take their award. Pic: BAFTA Pic: John Phillips/ Getty Images for BAFTA

‘Liars and bullies’

Mr Bates Vs The Post Office took the limited drama prize, with producer Patrick Spence telling the audience: “Our show didn’t change the law, the people of this nation did that,” before going on to say it showed the public “cannot abide liars and bullies.”

Flagging the journalists and the campaigners who covered the wrongful conviction of the sub postmasters convicted due to Horizon IT scandal, he called making the show, “the greatest privilege of our lives”.

Later, when accepting the special award earned by ITV for commissioning the show, the channel’s managing director Kevin Lygo said he’d “never seen anything quite like” the impact of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.

Flagging the large number of people impacted by the scandal who were still waiting for compensation, Lygo didn’t mince his words, demanding: “Hurry up and pay these people what they’re due.”

Danny Dyer in the press room after winning the Male Performance in a Comedy Programme Award for 'Mr Bigstuff' during the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Danny Dyer is a proud – and sweary – BAFTA winner. Pic: PA

Watch your mouth

Several winners were so excited they couldn’t refrain from a little blue language.

Accepting his first BAFTA for best male comedy performance, Danny Dyer dropped the f-bomb numerous times.

In his speech, Dyer thanked his co-star and the show’s creator Ryan Sampson, calling him “one of the greatest things to have come out of Rotherham”.

He praised Sampson for “never doing the same thing twice”, adding with tongue in cheek, “It’s not something I can say”. Dyer concluded his speech with a nod to his family, and a final trademark “f***”.

Meanwhile, a very excited Sophie Willen stepped up to accept the prize for scripted comedy.

The Taskmaster alumni told the crowd: “I’m not allowed to swear and all I want to do is go beep, beep”, before calling her win “bloomin’ fabulous”.

Willen – whose part autobiographical comedy Alma’s Not Normal tackles the care system, drug addiction, mental illness, and terminal cancer – called her cast and crew “shit hot”, before catching herself, then repeating “shit, shit”.

Ruth Jones in the press room after winning the Female Performance in a Comedy Programme Award for 'Gavin & Stacey: The Finale' during the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Ruth Jones with her BAFTA for Gavin & Stacey. Pic: Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

‘I love you James’

Taking the prize for female performance in a comedy, Ruth Jones channelled her inner Nessa, saying: “I’m not going to lie, this is immense.”

Thanking the cast and crew, she became emotional as she added: “The person I would like to thank most is my dear, dear talented friend James Corden.” The cameras of course then panned to a chuffed looking Corden, sitting in the audience.

She went on to say that without him, “Vanessa Shanessa Nessa Jenkins would not exist”, paying tribute to their 17 years writing together, adding, “long may it continue” – and so perhaps giving hope for a new Jones/Corden collaboration to follow Gavin And Stacey’s final act?

State Of Rage director Marcel Mettelsiefen. Pic: BAFTA
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State Of Rage director Marcel Mettelsiefen. Pic: John Phillips/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

War amid the awards

In a sobering moment amid the glitz and the glamour, the director of best single documentary, Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods – filmed by Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline – paid tribute to two contributors to the film who had since been killed in conflict.

Jamie Roberts spoke about two young men he’d worked with on the film, before adding: “They are not here – they are now dead.”

The winner of the current affairs category, State Of Rage, also offered a heartfelt message as they accepted the award for the programme which follows a Palestinian and Israeli family in the West Bank.

German State Of Rage director Marcel Mettelsiefen said: “It would be wrong to stand here without acknowledging what’s happening in Gaza.”

Speaking as a parent, he said: “This violence needs to stop now,” then adding, “let’s break this silence together.”

Kirsty Wark celebrates her fellowship. Pic: BAFTA
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Kirsty Wark celebrates her fellowship. Pic: John Phillips/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

‘I’ve interviewed musicians – and a few monsters’

Former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark received a standing ovation as she collected her BAFTA fellowship – the body’s highest accolade.

Accepting her award, Wark said: “Thank you so much to BAFTA. It is a privilege and an honour to have my name added to such an incredible roll call. My work continues to give me so much, not just wonderful friends and colleagues.”

The veteran broadcaster continued: “Things have changed so much, so radically, since the ’70s, not least the shoulder pads, the office drinks trolley, shooting on reversal for a fast edit, and film crews, the size of football teams, but always the chance to learn and grow and I’ve been lucky to interview everyone from politicians to painters, architects, economists, musicians and a few monsters.”

Wark added that the “most joyous change in television” has been “the number of women in senior roles”.

'Mr Cruises' aka Rob Brydon accepts Would I Lie To You's first BAFTA. Pic: BAFTA
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‘Mr Cruises’ aka Rob Brydon accepts Would I Lie To You’s first BAFTA. Pic: John Phillips/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

Would I Lie To You wins its first BAFTA

Everyone loves a conspiracy theory, and this year it could be courtesy of BAFTA and a big boat.

Accepting the entertainment award for perennial favourite Would I Lie To You, host Rob Brydon said: “This is a surprise.”

Team captain Lee Mack then added: “We’ve been nominated for eight years but now ‘Mr Cruises’ has done it for us,” referring to Brydon’s adverts for P&O cruises – the sponsor of tonight’s event.

“The whiff of scandal is in the air,” quipped Brydon.

In Memoriam

The In Memoriam section of the night was accompanied by live music by concert violinist and social media sensation Esther Abrami.

Always a poignant moment in the evening, it included a wide variety of stars who passed away this year including Shannon Doherty, Tony Slattery, Paul Danan, Henry Kelly, Linda Nolan, Michael Moseley, The Vivienne and Timothy West.

Sir David Suchet became Poirot - briefly - to hand out the best actress award. Pic: BAFTA
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Sir David Suchet became Poirot – briefly – to hand out the best actress award. Pic: John Phillips/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

Poirot presents best actress

Awarding the best actress prize, Sir David Suchet channelled his most famous on-screen character, Hercule Poirot, greeting the audience with “Mesdames, Messieurs” to wild applause.

He went on, in the words of the bumbling Belgian detective: “I expect you’re wondering why I’ve gathered you here tonight?”

Marisa Abela in the press room after winning the Leading Actress Award for 'Industry' during the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Marisa Abela with her BAFTA for leading actress. Pic: Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA


In a surprise win, Industry star Marisa Abela took the prize and had to be helped up on to the stage due to the length and tightness of her sparkling black gown.

Clearly surprised by her win, and becoming tearful, as she paid tribute to her drama school teacher who she said was in the audience that night, she also paid tribute to her mother, also an actress, without whom she said she’d never be on the stage accepting her first BAFTA aged just 28.

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Government to announce new English language and British citizenship requirements for migrants

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Government to announce new English language and British citizenship requirements for migrants

Migrants will have to live in the UK for a decade before they can apply for citizenship under plans to reduce reliance on foreign workers. 

The change from five to 10 years will come with exceptions for people who make a “high contribution” to the economy or society, who will able to be fast-tracked for permanent settlement rights.

It comes on top of new English language requirements across every visa route, which will extend to adult dependents for the first time.

The measures will be announced by Sir Keir Starmer on Monday ahead of the Immigration White Paper, which will set out further reforms to bring net migration down.

At a press conference later, the prime minister will say: “This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right.

“And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language.

“Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.”

Net migration – the difference between the number of people immigrating and emigrating to a country – soared when the UK left the EU in January 2020.

It reached 903,000 in the year to June 2023 before falling to 728,000 in mid-2024. But that is still well above its pre-Brexit high of 329,000 in the year up to June 2015.

The government is under pressure to tackle legal migration, as well as illegal immigration, amid Reform UK’s surge in the polls.

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Reform: Immigration ‘should be frozen’

However, experts have questioned whether some of the changes announced by Sir Keir today will have much of an impact, at least in the short term.

Currently, migrants have to live in the UK for five years to get indefinite leave to remain, or “settled status” if they are from the EU. They can then use this to apply for British citizenship, usually 12 months after settlement.

There were 162,000 grants of settlement in 2024, up 35% from 2023, and 270,000 grants of citizenship in 2024, up nearly a third on the previous year.

‘Contributions-based’ citizenship model

The new “contributions-based model” means people must spend a decade in the UK before applying to stay, unless they can show a “real and lasting contribution to the economy and society”.

Sir Keir Starmer at a summit in Oslo. Pic: PA
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Sir Keir Starmer at a summit in Oslo. Pic: PA

The Home Office said this will include “high-skilled” and “high-contributing” individuals like nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders.

The details are still being fleshed out and will be put to consultation later this year rather than in the white paper, Sky News understands.

However, the thinking is that those who pay higher taxes or who work in a priority sector will be eligible to be fast-tracked. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is also keen for discounts to apply to those who make an “outstanding contribution” to society, such as community leaders, it is understood.

English language requirements

The government also plans to raise English language requirements across every immigration route, so foreign workers speak a higher standard of English.

For the first time, this will also extend to all adult dependents by requiring them to demonstrate a basic understanding of English, which the government says will help people integrate and find employment.

Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, told Sky News that extending the amount of time people need to be in the UK to get permanent settlement rights is unlikely to significantly affect migration levels, as there is “no evidence” this affects their decision about whether to migrate.

Any impact would be seen in five to ten years, “when people get to that point of the visa journey”, she said, adding that the main effect of this policy would be to “bring in more visa-fee revenue to the Home Office” and “to make it harder for migrants to settle in”.

She said that language requirements “are more likely to have an impact on the number of visas granted”, as more than half of skilled worker visas over the past couple of years have gone to dependents.

“However, there’s no data on how many of them would have passed a language test so it is hard to say how big,” Dr Sumption added.

The home office has not put a figure on what sort of reduction these policies could achieve, with Ms Cooper to give more details in parliament on Monday afternoon.

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Minister reveals new immigration plans

On Sunday, she told Sky News’s Trevor Phillips that plans to close the care worker visa route and change the skilled visa threshold to require a graduate qualification would cut the number of overseas workers by about 50,000 this year.

Read More:
Labour’s shift on migration may assuage voters’ concerns – but risks impacting struggling care sector
Care workers plead for higher salaries amid recruitment crisis

However, she refused to put a target on the overall levels of net migration the government is aiming for, saying that approach “failed” under the Conservatives.

The Tories have admitted making mistakes in office, but are still calling for a binding immigration cap and want to repeal the Human Rights Act for immigration issues.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Labour has “overseen the worst ever start to a year for illegal immigrants crossing the channel” adding: “The idea that Starmer is tough on immigration is a joke.”

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Nottingham Forest owner confronts manager on pitch

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Nottingham Forest owner confronts manager on pitch

Nottingham Forest’s owner was filmed confronting his club’s manager on the pitch following their 2-2 draw with Leicester City.

Evangelos Marinakis entered the pitch after the Premier League match and was seen castigating manager Nuno Espirito Santo in front of the team’s fans.

The draw saw Forest’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s Champions League dented.

Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi receives medical attention after sustaining an injury. Pic: Reuters
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Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi receives medical attention after sustaining an injury. Pic: Reuters

Marinakis, however, was frustrated at his manager for not substituting 27-year-old forward Taiwo Awoniyi after he suffered an injury while colliding with a goalpost.

That decision meant injured Awoniyi played for the final ten minutes but wasn’t able to contribute to the game, according to the manager.

The confrontation drew widespread criticism of Marinakis, with former Manchester United star Gary Neville posting on X: “Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that”

Football broadcaster Des Kelly called Marinakis a “big baby” for his “tantrum out on the pitch”. “What an embarrassment,” he wrote in a post on X.

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After the match, Espirito Santo confirmed the confrontation was about Awoniyi’s injury.

“It was due to the situation,” he told Sky Sports. “We got information [Awoniyi] was okay to keep going,” he said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t have another stoppage to change him and he was not able to continue to help the team. We’re all frustrated.”

Although Forest made history this season and will now play in Europe – likely either in the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League – many fans hoped they would make it to the Champions League.

While still a possibility, the draw means Forest will have to rely on teams above them dropping points in the final two games of the season.

In a statement posted on social media, Marinakis admitted he was frustrated at the end of the match.

“Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years, Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion!”

“Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgment on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game.

“This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club.

“Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!”

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