The police staff member who recommended killer gunman Jake Davison be granted a shotgun certificate had not received any formal training to do his job, an inquest has heard. David Rees processed Davison’s application after he applied for a licence in July 2017 and made a formal recommendation accompanied by a report that he sent to a supervisor for approval.
The inquest heard as part of the assessment process Mr Rees, a firearms inquiry officer, sought information from Davison’s GP and spoke to a former teacher who was his referee. He also spoke with the 22-year-old and his mother, as well as Davison’s uncle, who was a licensed shotgun holder.
In January 2018 Davison was granted a shotgun certificate, which was valid for five years and in December 2020 it was seized, along with his firearm, after he assaulted two teenagers. The certificate and weapon were returned on July 9, 2021.
