Hampshire's police commissioner welcomes plans to protect the public from medically-unfit gun owners

Donna Jones said the measures, announced by the government, would stop tragedies like the one in Plymouth where a mentally-unstable shotgun owner murdered five people in 2021.

The new plans will see a digital marker being rolled out across GPs in England which, once applied to a patient’s record, will flag that they have a firearms licence and automatically alert doctors if there has been a change in their medical situation.

Mrs Jones said: ‘Here in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary we have had GP checks (before issuing gun licensees) for a few years. I’m pleased we have helped shape and improve the national policy just announced.

‘This will ensure the medical history of those applying for gun licenses are reviewed before being issued, and this extra measure will ensure gun license holders are monitored throughout their license period which will help prevent tragedies like those in Plymouth.’