In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report those concerns to you: _ (1) During the course of the hearing heard evidence from Wiltshire Police Firearms Licensing Manager, who indicated to me that at the present moment in time aside from a letter (copy attached marked A since 2011) which is sent to General Practitioners when firearms license applications are successful or where they are renewed, giving a doctor the opportunity to relay relevant information in relation to their patient within 14 days, there is currently no memorandum of understanding or legislation that allows doctors the ability during the duration of the term of a firearms license, which stands at 5 years, to report matters which may have bearing on that patient's suitability to hold a firearms license and possess firearms Doctors of course are bound at the present moment in time by patient confidentiality. am concerned that this restriction may impede the firearms authority from making crucial decisions as regards individuals possessing firearms and continuing to hold firearms licence circumstances which, at present; may not come before the attention of the Firearms Authority unless the matter has ordinarily come before the police's attention as consequence of other aspects of their duties_ In evidence from she made me aware that Wiltshire Police through the cooperation of NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group and two Doctor's Surgeries were piloting a scheme (directly prompted by Victoria's two sons as a result of this tragedy) effective from September 2013, to allow an increase in the sharing of information in particular having a bearing on the suitability of an individual to hold firearms licence_ She indicated that as a result of this pilot scheme an individual's firearms were taken away at short notice as a result of the information received from the General Practitioner . This pilot scheme seems to me to be an utterly sensible idea although at present it is a pilot scheme and is not a national concept. This ought to be urgently reviewed. (2) am also concerned that any review arising out of this letter should not be singularly restricted as regards sharing information solely related to the suitability of somebody to hold a firearms licence_ Information sharing with a view to public safety should be reason for General Practitioners to make relevant authority(s) aware and have in mind here the example of a driver whose eyesight is failing and where advice given from a GP to inform the DVLA however that driver chooses not to do so as it will mean their licence may be revoked. If it is a matter of public safety then am concerned at present moment in time that confidentiality appears to outweigh the concept of safety. his July public

(3) am also concerned as regards decisions being made relating to firearms licensing in respect of current employees within that licensing organisation's (ie the Police) employment Or even former employees_ Licensing and the determination of such matters should be seen to be transparent and independent: In evidence although relating to matters some years previously there were issues raised by family concerning complaints by Mr Dowling's ex wife at the time were getting divorced that appeared to have been 'brushed under the carpet" by the police in respect of which Bill was a serving officer. In any event those concerns were not dealt with satisfactorily from the complainant's perspective: am concerned that to have a firearms licensing authority dealing with applications from existing police employees Or even former employees of that police force is open to possible abuse_ Bill Dowling was an exceptionally well known and respected former police employee and my concern is that such matters relative to firearms are so serious that consideration ought to be given to introducing an independent layer so as to ensure independence and transparency: