Retired Devon and Cornwall Police officer may face disciplinary hearing after Keyham inquest

A police officer who gave evidence at the inquest into the Keyham shootings may face a disciplinary hearing over allegations of gross misconduct, a police watchdog has said.

A number of officers were called to give evidence at the five week long inquest held in early 2023 into the deaths of five people, and serious injury of two adults, at the hands of Jake Davison, on August 12, 2021.

The apprentice crane operator killed his mother Maxine Davison, 51, as well as Stephen Washington, 59, three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father, Lee, 43, and Kate Shepherd, 66, in Keyham, using a licenced pump-action shotgun. Davison took his own life on the same day.

In August 2023 the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it had launched a criminal investigation into breaches of health and safety legislation and evidence given at the Keyham inquest. As a result Devon and Cornwall Police had suspended two 'members' of it's force who were informed by the IOPC they were being "criminally investigated". The watchdog also confirmed it had "served the two individuals with gross misconduct notices."

The IOPC has now confirmed it had completed its investigation into a police officer - since retired - regarding evidence given at the Keyham inquest and has recommended to Devon and Cornwall Police that the officer should attend a disciplinary hearing to over allegations of gross misconduct, stating they may have breached standards of professional behaviour.

It is for Devon and Cornwall Police to determine whether or not it will follow the IOPC's recommendation.

In addition, the IOPC has said that following its investigation into the officer it had sent a file to the Crown Prosecution Service - who had decided to not bring criminal proceedings.

The watchdog has said it is continuing to investigate the Office of the Chief Constable over health and safety matters in relation to the force's firearms department and are also continuing to investigate a police member who has been suspended by the force.

An IOPC spokesperson said: "We have completed an investigation into a Devon & Cornwall Police officer in relation to evidence given at the inquest into the Keyham shootings.

"We have decided that the officer should attend a disciplinary hearing to face allegations of gross misconduct. Our investigation found evidence the officer may have breached standards of professional behaviour for honesty and integrity, conduct, and duties and responsibilities.

"The officer has since retired. It is for Devon & Cornwall Police to arrange a gross misconduct hearing, which will decide whether the allegations are proven. At the end of our investigation, we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service which decided not to bring criminal proceedings.

"Our investigation into the Office of the Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall Police for potential breaches of health and safety legislation concerning the running of the Firearms and Explosives Licensing Department prior to the Keyham shootings is ongoing.

"In addition, we are investigating allegations against a member of Devon & Cornwall Police who remains suspended by the force. We have served a gross misconduct notice on the individual and informed them they are also being criminally investigated. This does not mean that any proceedings will necessarily follow.

“We are working hard to conclude the investigations as soon as we can."

The jury at the five week inquest into the unlawful killings in Keyham concluded that there had been "catastrophic failures" at Devon and Cornwall Police, with the force's Firearms Explosives Licensing Unit (FELU) coming in for fierce criticism - and the Home Office and other organisations also given strong words.

The jury found that there had been a series of failures, including in the "granting and, later, failing to revoke the perpetrator’s shotgun certificate", a failure to obtain "sufficient medical information", a failure to "properly seek out and consider all the relevant evidence and information available before deciding whether to grant the perpetrator a shotgun certificate".

The jury stated that "in licensing the perpetrator to have a shotgun there was a serious failure by Devon and Cornwall Police to protect the deceased."

The jury also found that "there was a catastrophic failure in the management of the FELU, 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."

Devon and Cornwall Police has declined to comment.

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