THERE are at least 1,173 firearms and 2,671 shotguns per 100,000 people in the Avon and Somerset police force area - but people applying for licenses will be subject to social media checks following the mass shooting in Plymouth on Thursday. 

Last year, there were 4,988 applications for firearm certificates in England and Wales, of which 98% were granted.  

Of the 10,901 applications for shotgun certificates, 97% were granted. 

The data comes from the Home Office’s annual statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales, which covers the period April 2020 to March 2021.

Firearm and shotgun certificates are a type of license that are granted by the police and are valid for five years. 

Firearms include rifles, handguns, muzzle-loading handguns, Section 1 shotguns and sound moderators. 

Shotguns are categorised as Section 2 shotguns and other shotgun types. 

The government is now preparing statutory guidance to ensure higher standards of decision-making around applications for firearm certificates, including social media checks on applicants.

It comes after on Thursday (August 12), 22-year-old Jake Davison killed five people in the Keyham area of Plymouth - including his mother and a three-year-old girl - before turning the gun on himself.

Somerset County Gazette:

At a memorial event outside the Guildhall in Plymouth city centre, Keyham community leader Kevin Sproston said: "The solidarity, love and support shown by Plymouth and the UK towards Keyham has been overwhelming and we thank you for all your kind messages, it means a lot.

"We are in shock, feel guilty and angry about the events surrounding the deaths of our beloved community members because we love.

"It is that love and energy that we can now use to being about change.

"As a community we will look to restore and rebuild together." 

In December, Davison had his gun and license revoked after he was accused of assault in September, but they were returned by Devon and Cornwall Police in July.

He wrote about mass shootings and made threats in social media posts before the attack.

His social media also suggested an obsession with 'incel' (involuntary celibate) culture and an interest in guns and the United States.  

The Home Office data reveals that there are 617,171 firearms covered by firearm certificates and 1,379,399 shotguns covered by shotgun certificates in England and Wales (as of March 31, 2021).  

In the Avon and Somerset police force area, there are between 1,173 and 1,759 firearms held on certificates per 100,000 people. 

The statistics also show that there are between 2,671 and 4,006 shotguns held on certificates in the area. 

According to the police force’s 2017 Equality Report, over 1.6 million people live in Avon and Somerset – meaning there are between 18,768 and 28,144 firearms in the area, and between 42,736 and 64,096 shotguns.  

The police force areas with the highest number of firearms per 100,000 people in England and Wales are North Yorkshire (2,931), Dyfed-Powys (2,703), and Cumbria (2,545).

For shotguns, the police areas with the highest number per 100,000 people are Dyfed Powys (6,676), Norfolk (6,567) and Suffolk (5,827). 

The police areas with the fewest firearms per 100,000 people are the Metropolitan Police (203), West Midlands (312) and Merseyside (340).  

The police areas with the fewest number of shotguns per 100,000 people are Merseyside (542), the Metropolitan Police (550) and Greater Manchester (590).