Keith Andrew WESTON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 14 March 2022 I commenced an investigation into the death of Keith Andrew WESTON aged 68. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 16 November 2022. The conclusion of the inquest was that:

On the 9th of March 2022 the deceased shot himself with a licensed firearm in the garden of his home address of ████████, Knaresborough.

On the 9th of March 2022, the deceased was found on the ground in the garden of his home address with a shotgun ████████ and severe trauma to his head. He had sent concerning messages to family and friends and a detailed note of intent was found near to his body. The note attributed his actions to a combination of declining health and the fact that he was due to appear in court that day on charges of tax fraud. The deceased had been licensed to possess firearms for a number of years.

During the course of the inquest, evidence was heard from a Detective Inspector with North Yorkshire Police who is a Firearms Licensing Manager. The evidence was that, unlike standard police prosecutions, prosecutions of individuals by other authorities do not involve automatic checks of the Police National Computer which would flag whether that individual is licensed to possess a firearm. The appearance of such an alert allows the firearms licensing authority to assess the individual’s continuing suitability to possess a firearm in the context of the prosecution and its possible outcomes.

In this instance, the deceased was being prosecuted for tax fraud by HMRC and was due to make a court appearance on the day of his death. He left a note of intent, indicating that the prosecution and its likely outcome were central to his decision to end his life. Had it been flagged that the deceased was facing such a prosecution, I was informed that it was 'highly likely' that his access to licensed firearms would have been restricted and the weapons removed from him in accordance with statutory guidance. While it cannot be said that this would have prevented the deceased's death by his own hand from some other means, it would have prevented the unlawful discharge of the weapon as a means of suicide. I understand that this issue has been escalated to the NPCC Lead for firearms licensing with a view to highlighting the concern with all non-police prosecuting authorities. I also understand the HMRC investigator did not respond to the officer's contact with the agency to flag this issue. I am writing to HMRC to draw this concern to its attention and to invite it to respond directly, as well as to engage with the NPCC in this regard.