Tightening of firearms licensing rules welcomed by campaigner whose sister and nieces were murdered in Sussex village

In March 2020, Kelly Fitzgibbons, 40, was shot at close range and killed in Woodmancote, alongside her two daughters Ava, four, and Lexi, two. The killer, who turned the legally-owned gun on himself, was 42-year-old builder Robert Needham, partner to Kelly and father to the two girls.

Five years on, tighter controls on firearms licensing have been introduced. Statutory guidance for the police will 'strengthen how they determine' who is suitable to hold a firearm or shotgun licence - 'better protecting the public and making streets safe', under the Plan for Change.

Effective from Tuesday, August 5, the government has increased the number of referees required for shotgun certificate applications from one to two, as well as providing new advice to referees on their responsibilities in supporting an application.

This has been welcomed by Kelly Fitzgibbons' twin sister Emma Ambler – a gun laws campaigner who had called for stricter laws.

Ms Ambler said: "I’m really pleased that the government is strengthening the current firearms licensing guidance. Although there is still some way to go, these changes are very welcome and it is pleasing to finally feel listened to after five years of campaigning to make the system safer.

"I still believe that holding a gun licence is a privilege and not a right. The priority has to be the safety of society and it’s so important to stop these extremely dangerous weapons falling into the wrong hands, which these changes will go some way to doing.

"I’m pleased there is going to be a further consultation and it’s really important that the general public respond to this, not just gun owners, as unfortunately these tragedies can impact anybody.

“The new rules will mean an additional person, who has known the applicant well for at least two years, 'will need to vouch for them'. This is bringing shotgun referee checks in line with wider firearms and 'making sure there is greater opportunity' for any concerns about an applicant to be raised or identified.”

The government said the changes are also in response to shootings in Plymouth in August 2021 – whereby five people were killed by a gunman using his licensed shotgun, before he turned the weapon on himself in the Keyham area.

Policing Minister, Diana Johnson, explained: "Only those who meet the highest standards of safety and responsibility should be permitted to use shotguns or firearms, and it is crucial that police have full information about the suitability of all applicants for these lethal weapons.

"The events in Woodmancote in 2020, Plymouth in 2021 and other cases provide a tragic reminder of what can happen when these weapons are in the hands of the wrong people, and we must do everything we can to protect the public.

"That is why, as part of our Plan for Change, we are giving the police the tools and resources they need to make safe, timely and consistent decisions when it comes to firearms licensing.

"This is just one part of our mission to make our streets safer. We will also launch a public consultation on the controls on shotguns and other firearms issues later this year."

The UK Government has made this move to 'keep people safe and help the police apply the law consistently'.