Police criticised over death of Brixham ‘champion’

A failure in police processes leading up to the death of a well-known Torbay farmer and councillor has been highlighted in an official Coroner’s report.

Richard Haddock was given back his guns despite fears for his and his wife’s safety, and the report says procedures were not effective. Police say policies are regularly reviewed and updated, with public safety paramount.

Mr Haddock, who was 66, took his own life at his Churston farm shop in June 2023, using a shotgun which had been returned to him by police eight months previously.

An inquest heard that the guns had been taken away because there were concerns about Mr Haddock’s mood after a series of highly stressful issues in his life.

The weapons were then handed back with police unaware that Mr Haddock was being prosecuted by the Environment Agency (EA) over a long-running investigation. The inquest, which was held in November, also heard he faced other stresses including bankruptcy and a health scare.

During the hearing Inspector Mitch Wallace, a police firearms licensing manager, said their department was never sent or never filed the information about the EA proceedings. She said: “If we had been made aware it may have impacted the decision to return the guns.”

In her just-published ‘Prevention of Future Deaths’ report, Devon Area Coroner Alison Longhorn says that in February 2020 a member of the public contacted police as Mrs Haddock had asked for her husband’s guns to be seized for safekeeping. Mr Haddock was suffering from stress at the time due to the civil legal dispute, and his wife was concerned that he would use the  guns to ‘hurt himself or her’, the report says.

Police duly seized the guns, and when Mr Haddock applied to review his shotgun certificate, the matter remained under review for some time.

His doctor did not note any concerns, but police were aware of the ‘significant’ civil court judgment which had resulted in the family farm being sold.

On November 7 2022, police returned Mr. Haddock’s firearms.

During the inquest hearing Ms Longhorn said she thought it likely that if the Firearms Licensing Department had known all the facts a week before his death, a review would have taken place and the guns would have been seized again.

The coroner’s report goes on: “During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.

“The police process which should have ensured that the Firearms Licensing Department was notified of the EA’s prosecution of Mr Haddock failed to be effective.

“The offences with which Mr. Haddock had been charged by the EA were correctly placed onto Mr Haddock’s police national computer (PNC) record a year before the final decision was made to return his shotgun to him. The Firearms Licensing Department had not checked his PNC record since more than a year before the final decision to return his guns was made and was therefore unaware of the prosecution.

“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organization have the power to take such action.”

Police have until the beginning of March to respond with details of any action taken or proposed, setting out a timetable for action. Otherwise the force must explain why no action is proposed.

A police spokesperson said: “Devon and Cornwall Police will provide a comprehensive response as required. While the family and friends of Mr Haddock remain in our thoughts, it would be inappropriate to comment further until this response is received and published by HM Coroner.

“The granting and renewing of firearms licensing remains a key priority for the force and has oversight at the highest strategic level. We continue to regularly review and update our governance and policies to ensure the highest focus on public safety.”

Mr Haddock was a former Devon chairman of the National Farmers Union and had been a leading Conservative member of Torbay Council. A statement from Brixham Town Council, where he had served as chairman, described him as a ‘great champion’ for the town.