Home Office criticised over failure to tighten shotgun laws after Plymouth shooting

Minister says weapon is important for rural work and pursuits, and that UK already has tough gun laws

The UK government has been strongly criticised by anti-gun campaigners for rejecting calls from bereaved families, senior police officers and a coroner to put extra controls on shotguns in response to the Plymouth mass shooting.

Ministers were accused of putting the rights of shooters before public safety after deciding against strengthening the shotgun laws on the basis that doing so could affect country sports and farmers and claiming the UK already had some of the strictest laws in the world.