Latest news with #JakeDavison
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
We saw bodies as smirking ‘Terminator' gunman who slaughtered 5 prowled our quiet street… the bloodbath still haunts us
The Ted Bundy-obsessed gunman's twisted rampage came after a 'catastrophic failure' by police GUN RAMPAGE We saw bodies as smirking 'Terminator' gunman who slaughtered 5 prowled our quiet street… the bloodbath still haunts us WITH neat, well-tended gardens and neighbours chatting over their picket fences, Biddick Drive feels like a haven of peace in the heart of a bustling city. Yet a terrible shadow has been cast over this seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac - and locals are still struggling to shake off the memories of August 12, 2021, when blood ran in the streets, leaving five dead. 16 Plymouth gunman Jack Davison slaughtered five people in his sickening rampage Credit: Facebook / Jake Davison 16 Davison killed his mother at their home in Biddick Drive, Keyham, before going on a shooting spree down the road Credit: Neil Hope 16 Local resident Victoria White said she never used to worry about locking her door - but does now Credit: Neil Hope It was on that hot, humid evening in Plymouth four years ago that deranged gunman Jake Davison emerged from his 51-year-old mother's terraced house, having shot and killed her. Thick-set, his body pumped up through steroid abuse and hours in the gym, he then strolled downhill, spraying locals with rounds from a Weatherby pump-action shotgun as he went. Eye-witnesses told how the Ted Bundy-obsessed gunman - who had branded himself "Terminator" before the rampage - was apparently enjoying himself as he shot neighbours Michelle Parker and her son Ben Parsonage, injuring both. Ben recalled: "He had a smirk on his face, like he didn't care what he was doing." By the time Davison's murderous 19-minute rampage came to an end, five people lay dead or dying on the streets of Plymouth's Keyham district. It was one of the worst mass shootings in British criminal history. Unsurprisingly, those living on the road are still haunted by that tragic day. As one resident told The Sun: "When you're out of the house now, you take notice of who's around. The memories fade – they don't leave." In addition to his mum Maxine, victims included three-year-old Sophie Martyn, nicknamed 'Daddy's Princess', her father Lee, 43, shot three times, Stephen Washington, 59, a carer for his disabled wife who was walking his husky dog through nearby parkland, and artist Kate Shepherd, 66, blasted outside a hair salon. 16 Stephen Washington was killed in the Keyham shooting while walking his dog Credit: PA 16 Lee Martyn, 43, and daughter Sophie Martyn, three, were also killed Credit: Tim Stewart 16 The funeral of little Sophie and her father Lee Credit: PA Finally, confronted by unarmed PC Zach Printer, who bravely ran to within 20 metres of the killer shouting for him to stop, 22-year-old Davison turned the gun on himself. Within days, reports emerged of his troubled state of mind. One former teacher told of Davison's unhealthy love of guns. Another had concerns about his anger management. CCTV appears to show Jake Davison during Plymouth shooting spree His desperate mother, with whom he had a violent and volatile relationship, told relatives of his obsessive use of energy drinks and muscle-boosting supplements while his absent father said he "was in his own world", largely devoid of emotion. Later, an inquest jury would hear how staff at Plymouth's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service noted that Davison, diagnosed as autistic 10 years earlier, enjoyed violent computer games and used "sexual talk which was quite extreme". Aged 13, his ambition was to be a sniper. Police enquiries showed that, as an adult, he became immersed in the shocking world of incels – a violent online sub-culture dominated by men unable to find love. 16 The scene at Biddick Drive after the tragedy Credit: Chris Eades 16 Local Arthur Beacham said 'Any one of us could have been a victim' Credit: Neil Hope 16 He was out waling his dog on the evening the tragedy unfolded Credit: Neil Hope But apprentice crane driver Davison's mental health background was only one factor in his victims' fate. In concluding that all five were unlawfully killed, an inquest jury pointed to a "catastrophic failure" by Devon and Cornwall Police. Officers granted him a firearms licence in 2018 in the full knowledge that he had assaulted teachers and a fellow student. And although in September 2020 he launched a "ferocious, intense and unprovoked attack" on a teenage boy and 15-year-old girl, he was placed on a "deferred change programme" called Pathfinder instead of facing a court. Davison 'viewed women with contempt' and sympathised with incel culture An inquest heard how Davison spent a lot of time reading and writing about 'incel' culture. The term refers to "involuntary celibates" with the movement labelled a "hate" group as many followers believe they are owed sex by women. Incels believe they have no possibility of finding a partner to get love, validation or acceptance from. In turn, this makes some incels want to strike out at the world because they have been rejected by girls, while others blame attractive men for their perceived problems. The self-confessed black sheep of the family also described himself as "The Terminator" in a slew of "deeply disturbing" posts. He shared posts referring to 'violence, misogynistic views, viewing women with contempt' and "sympathy with incel culture", the inquest was told. He also looked up Ted Bundy and incel serial killers, watched videos on firearms and how to reload them and posted a one minute clip from an online game called KillZone. Jurors heard Davison branded mum Maxine a "dirty insufferable, a vile creature" who was difficult to live with. His firearms licence was seized only in December 2020 after another Pathfinder member tipped off police that it remained valid. Yet it was returned seven months later after an officer decided Davison was "low risk" and his decision – which should have been signed off by a senior colleague – went unchallenged. Today, many Keyham residents cannot understand how laws supposed to protect them from gun crime proved so hopelessly ineffective. On Royal Navy Avenue – the route Davison took as he headed towards his final victim – resident Victoria White, 51, told us: "You think about those who died and their families and wonder how this could ever have happened. "I'd known [victim] Lee for years. I worked with him when I was 16 at a local Toshiba dealer. 16 Davison strolled downhill, spraying locals with rounds from a Weatherby pump-action shotgun as he went Credit: Facebook / Jake Davison 16 He was caught on CCTV during his twisted shooting spree Credit: Plymouth Police 16 "My neighbour and I saw someone lying on the ground just up the road. We thought they were unconscious because of drug use. But they had been shot there in broad daylight. "What happened was dreadful. It's always there with you. "When you're out of the house now, you take notice of who's around. "The memories fade – they don't leave. I never used to worry about locking my door…but I do now." Another neighbour, who asked to be named only as Paul, agreed. "I suffer from PTSD," he said. The memories fade – they don't leave" Resident Victoria White "I don't think what happened should ever be forgotten and I understand why people still have questions. "But it affected me very badly and I can't talk about it." Devon and Cornwall Police has since made major changes to its firearms licensing unit - more than doubling staffing levels to 99 by 2023, improving training procedures and appointing four senior managers instead of one to assess high-risk decisions. On Biddick Drive itself, there is an understandable reluctance among neighbours to talk about the shootings. The feeling was summed up by 85-year-old Arthur Beacham, out walking his springer spaniel Barney. 16 A photo of the Weatherby pump action shotgun used by Davison next to a standard sporting style 12 – gauge over – under twin barrel shotgun (below) shown in the inquest Credit: PA 16 Those on Biddick Drive are still haunted by the horror shooting Credit: Neil Hope "It's something that wants forgetting," he said. "What happened was awful, but it's gone, it's over, and we can't bring anyone back. The man was off his head. How do you deal with people like that? "Any one of us could have been a victim. I was out with my dog that evening and my usual walk would have taken me into his path. "For some reason, I decided we'd go to St Levan's Park instead." A few streets away, Manos, a gardener, said social media had made the aftermath of the tragedy worse for some residents. What happened was awful but it's gone, it's over and we can't bring anyone back. The man was off his head. How do you deal with people like that? Arthur Beacham He said: "Years ago, if a violent crime happened in your neighbourhood, you would chat it through with your family and friends and process it gradually in your own time. "Social media changed all that. Now photos flash up as 'memories' whether you want them to or not. And even if those photos aren't directly of the scene of the crime, they can still upset you by reminding you where you were and what you were doing at the time. "They come up on some thread and people share them, and suddenly everyone is weighing in." 'Moving on' But he added that Keyham remained a place people wanted to live. "My customers love it here," he said. "I don't hear anyone saying they want to leave." Latest figures from the estate agents' website Rightmove bear that out. Average sold prices reached a peak of £167,315 in 2022 and since then have risen by a further 9% to stand at £182,817. One young mother told how she'd moved into Biddick Drive – which comprises mostly rental properties – even though some friends couldn't understand why. "I wasn't here when it all happened. I've just taken the road as I found it," she said. "The truth is, it's a lovely community. It's quiet, people talk to each other, it feels safe for kids. "As far as I'm concerned, there's no stigma. Why wouldn't you want to live here?" It's the kind of spirit that has also been embraced by local businesses. At Henderson Local Convenience Store, yards from where Davison killed himself, the owner said her family had been welcomed and supported by locals. "This place lay mostly empty after what he did," she said. "It was briefly a café, then a shop but maybe because everyone remembered what happened, these businesses quickly closed. "We came in from outside. I had to ask a customer why a candle and bouquet of flowers had been left here. That was how I discovered what had happened. "Now we have many customers and they appreciate that we're trying to give them a good service. "Keyham is a good place to live. This is a strong community and it is moving on." 16 Victoria White saw a body lying on the ground after the shooting Credit: Neil Hope
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
We saw bodies as smirking ‘Terminator' gunman who slaughtered 5 prowled our quiet street… the bloodbath still haunts us
WITH neat, well-tended gardens and neighbours chatting over their picket fences, Biddick Drive feels like a haven of peace in the heart of a bustling city. Yet a terrible shadow has been cast over this seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac - and locals are still struggling to shake off the memories of August 12, 2021, when blood ran in the streets, leaving five dead. 16 16 It was on that hot, humid evening in Plymouth four years ago that deranged gunman Jake Davison emerged from his 51-year-old mother's terraced house, having shot and killed her. Thick-set, his body pumped up through steroid abuse and hours in the gym, he then strolled downhill, spraying locals with rounds from a Weatherby pump-action shotgun as he went. Eye-witnesses told how the Ted Bundy-obsessed gunman - who had branded himself "Terminator" before the rampage - was apparently enjoying himself as he shot neighbours Michelle Parker and her son Ben Parsonage, injuring both. Ben recalled: "He had a smirk on his face, like he didn't care what he was doing." By the time Davison's murderous 19-minute rampage came to an end, five people lay dead or dying on the streets of Plymouth's Keyham district. It was one of the worst mass shootings in British criminal history. Unsurprisingly, those living on the road are still haunted by that tragic day. As one resident told The Sun: "When you're out of the house now, you take notice of who's around. The memories fade – they don't leave." In addition to his mum Maxine, victims included three-year-old Sophie Martyn, nicknamed 'Daddy's Princess', her father Lee, 43, shot three times, Stephen Washington, 59, a carer for his disabled wife who was walking his husky dog through nearby parkland, and artist Kate Shepherd, 66, blasted outside a hair salon. 16 Finally, confronted by unarmed PC Zach Printer, who bravely ran to within 20 metres of the killer shouting for him to stop, 22-year-old Davison turned the gun on himself. Within days, reports emerged of his troubled state of mind. One former teacher told of Davison's unhealthy love of guns. Another had concerns about his anger management. CCTV appears to show Jake Davison during Plymouth shooting spree His desperate mother, with whom he had a violent and volatile relationship, told relatives of his obsessive use of energy drinks and muscle-boosting supplements while his absent father said he "was in his own world", largely devoid of emotion. Later, an inquest jury would hear how staff at Plymouth's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service noted that Davison, diagnosed as autistic 10 years earlier, enjoyed violent computer games and used "sexual talk which was quite extreme". Aged 13, his ambition was to be a sniper. Police enquiries showed that, as an adult, he became immersed in the shocking world of incels – a violent online sub-culture dominated by men unable to find love. 16 16 16 But apprentice crane driver Davison's mental health background was only one factor in his victims' fate. In concluding that all five were unlawfully killed, an inquest jury pointed to a "catastrophic failure" by Devon and Cornwall Police. Officers granted him a firearms licence in 2018 in the full knowledge that he had assaulted teachers and a fellow student. And although in September 2020 he launched a "ferocious, intense and unprovoked attack" on a teenage boy and 15-year-old girl, he was placed on a "deferred change programme" called Pathfinder instead of facing a court. Davison 'viewed women with contempt' and sympathised with incel culture An inquest heard how Davison spent a lot of time reading and writing about 'incel' culture. The term refers to "involuntary celibates" with the movement labelled a "hate" group as many followers believe they are owed sex by women. Incels believe they have no possibility of finding a partner to get love, validation or acceptance from. In turn, this makes some incels want to strike out at the world because they have been rejected by girls, while others blame attractive men for their perceived problems. The self-confessed black sheep of the family also described himself as "The Terminator" in a slew of "deeply disturbing" posts. He shared posts referring to 'violence, misogynistic views, viewing women with contempt' and "sympathy with incel culture", the inquest was told. He also looked up Ted Bundy and incel serial killers, watched videos on firearms and how to reload them and posted a one minute clip from an online game called KillZone. Jurors heard Davison branded mum Maxine a "dirty insufferable, a vile creature" who was difficult to live with. His firearms licence was seized only in December 2020 after another Pathfinder member tipped off police that it remained valid. Yet it was returned seven months later after an officer decided Davison was "low risk" and his decision – which should have been signed off by a senior colleague – went unchallenged. Today, many Keyham residents cannot understand how laws supposed to protect them from gun crime proved so hopelessly ineffective. On Royal Navy Avenue – the route Davison took as he headed towards his final victim – resident Victoria White, 51, told us: "You think about those who died and their families and wonder how this could ever have happened. "I'd known [victim] Lee for years. I worked with him when I was 16 at a local Toshiba dealer. 16 "My neighbour and I saw someone lying on the ground just up the road. We thought they were unconscious because of drug use. But they had been shot there in broad daylight. "What happened was dreadful. It's always there with you. "When you're out of the house now, you take notice of who's around. "The memories fade – they don't leave. I never used to worry about locking my door…but I do now." Another neighbour, who asked to be named only as Paul, agreed. "I suffer from PTSD," he said. "I don't think what happened should ever be forgotten and I understand why people still have questions. "But it affected me very badly and I can't talk about it." Devon and Cornwall Police has since made major changes to its firearms licensing unit - more than doubling staffing levels to 99 by 2023, improving training procedures and appointing four senior managers instead of one to assess high-risk decisions. On Biddick Drive itself, there is an understandable reluctance among neighbours to talk about the shootings. The feeling was summed up by 85-year-old Arthur Beacham, out walking his springer spaniel Barney. 16 "It's something that wants forgetting," he said. "What happened was awful, but it's gone, it's over, and we can't bring anyone back. The man was off his head. How do you deal with people like that? "Any one of us could have been a victim. I was out with my dog that evening and my usual walk would have taken me into his path. "For some reason, I decided we'd go to St Levan's Park instead." A few streets away, Manos, a gardener, said social media had made the aftermath of the tragedy worse for some residents. What happened was awful but it's gone, it's over and we can't bring anyone back. The man was off his head. How do you deal with people like that? Arthur Beacham He said: "Years ago, if a violent crime happened in your neighbourhood, you would chat it through with your family and friends and process it gradually in your own time. "Social media changed all that. Now photos flash up as 'memories' whether you want them to or not. And even if those photos aren't directly of the scene of the crime, they can still upset you by reminding you where you were and what you were doing at the time. "They come up on some thread and people share them, and suddenly everyone is weighing in." 'Moving on' But he added that Keyham remained a place people wanted to live. "My customers love it here," he said. "I don't hear anyone saying they want to leave." Latest figures from the estate agents' website Rightmove bear that out. Average sold prices reached a peak of £167,315 in 2022 and since then have risen by a further 9% to stand at £182,817. One young mother told how she'd moved into Biddick Drive – which comprises mostly rental properties – even though some friends couldn't understand why. "I wasn't here when it all happened. I've just taken the road as I found it," she said. "The truth is, it's a lovely community. It's quiet, people talk to each other, it feels safe for kids. "As far as I'm concerned, there's no stigma. Why wouldn't you want to live here?" It's the kind of spirit that has also been embraced by local businesses. At Henderson Local Convenience Store, yards from where Davison killed himself, the owner said her family had been welcomed and supported by locals. "This place lay mostly empty after what he did," she said. "It was briefly a café, then a shop but maybe because everyone remembered what happened, these businesses quickly closed. "We came in from outside. I had to ask a customer why a candle and bouquet of flowers had been left here. That was how I discovered what had happened. "Now we have many customers and they appreciate that we're trying to give them a good service. "Keyham is a good place to live. This is a strong community and it is moving on." 16
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
We saw bodies as smirking ‘Terminator' gunman who slaughtered 5 prowled our quiet street… the bloodbath still haunts us
WITH neat, well-tended gardens and neighbours chatting over their picket fences, Biddick Drive feels like a haven of peace in the heart of a bustling city. Yet a terrible shadow has been cast over this seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac - and locals are still struggling to shake off the memories of August 12, 2021, when blood ran in the streets, leaving five dead. 16 Plymouth gunman Jack Davison slaughtered five people in his sickening rampage Credit: Facebook / Jake Davison 16 Davison killed his mother at their home in Biddick Drive, Keyham, before going on a shooting spree down the road Credit: Neil Hope 16 Local resident Victoria White said she never used to worry about locking her door - but does now Credit: Neil Hope It was on that hot, humid evening in Plymouth four years ago that deranged gunman Jake Davison emerged from his 51-year-old mother's terraced house, having Thick-set, his body pumped up through steroid abuse and hours in the gym, he then strolled downhill, spraying locals with rounds from a Weatherby pump-action shotgun as he went. Eye-witnesses told how the Ben recalled: "He had a smirk on his face, like he didn't care what he was doing." By the time Davison's murderous 19-minute rampage came to an end, five people lay dead or dying on the streets of Plymouth's Keyham district. It was one of the worst mass shootings in British criminal history. Unsurprisingly, those living on the road are still haunted by that tragic day. As one resident told The Sun: "When you're out of the house now, you take notice of who's around. The memories fade – they don't leave." In addition to his mum Maxine, victims included three-year-old Sophie Martyn, nicknamed 'Daddy's Princess', her father Lee, 43, shot three times, Stephen Washington, 59, a carer for his disabled wife who was walking his husky dog through nearby parkland, and artist Kate Shepherd, 66, blasted outside a hair salon. 16 Stephen Washington was killed in the Keyham shooting while walking his dog Credit: PA 16 Lee Martyn, 43, and daughter Sophie Martyn, three, were also killed Credit: Tim Stewart 16 The funeral of little Sophie and her father Lee Credit: PA Finally, confronted by unarmed PC Zach Printer, who bravely ran to within 20 metres of the killer shouting for him to stop, 22-year-old Davison turned the gun on himself. Within days, reports emerged of his troubled state of mind. One former teacher told of Davison's unhealthy love of guns. Another had concerns about his anger management. CCTV appears to show Jake Davison during Plymouth shooting spree His desperate mother, with whom he had a violent and volatile relationship, told relatives of his obsessive use of energy drinks and muscle-boosting supplements while his absent father said he "was in his own world", largely devoid of emotion. Later, an inquest jury would hear how staff at Plymouth's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service noted that Davison, diagnosed as autistic 10 years earlier, enjoyed violent computer games and used "sexual talk which was quite extreme". Aged 13, his ambition was to be a sniper. Police enquiries showed that, as an adult, he became immersed in the shocking world of incels – a violent online sub-culture dominated by men unable to find love. 16 The scene at Biddick Drive after the tragedy Credit: Chris Eades 16 Local Arthur Beacham said 'Any one of us could have been a victim' Credit: Neil Hope 16 He was out waling his dog on the evening the tragedy unfolded Credit: Neil Hope But apprentice crane driver Davison's mental health background was only one factor in his victims' fate. In concluding that all five were unlawfully killed, an inquest jury pointed to a "catastrophic failure" by Devon and Cornwall Police. Officers granted him a firearms licence in 2018 in the full knowledge that he had assaulted teachers and a fellow student. And although in September 2020 he launched a "ferocious, intense and unprovoked attack" on a teenage boy and 15-year-old girl, he was placed on a "deferred change programme" called Pathfinder instead of facing a court. Davison 'viewed women with contempt' and sympathised with incel culture An inquest heard how Davison spent a lot of time reading and writing about 'incel' culture. The term refers to "involuntary celibates" with the movement labelled a "hate" group as many followers believe they are owed sex by women. Incels believe they have no possibility of finding a partner to get love, validation or acceptance from. In turn, this makes some incels want to strike out at the world because they have been rejected by girls, while others blame attractive men for their perceived problems. The self-confessed black sheep of the family also described himself as "The Terminator" in a slew of "deeply disturbing" posts. He shared posts referring to 'violence, misogynistic views, viewing women with contempt' and "sympathy with incel culture", the inquest was told. He also looked up Ted Bundy and incel serial killers, watched videos on firearms and how to reload them and posted a one minute clip from an online game called KillZone. Jurors heard Davison branded mum Maxine a "dirty insufferable, a vile creature" who was difficult to live with. His firearms licence was seized only in December 2020 after another Pathfinder member tipped off police that it remained valid. Yet it was returned seven months later after an officer decided Davison was "low risk" and his decision – which should have been signed off by a senior colleague – went unchallenged. Today, many Keyham residents cannot understand how laws supposed to protect them from gun crime proved so hopelessly ineffective. On Royal Navy Avenue – the route Davison took as he headed towards his final victim – resident Victoria White, 51, told us: "You think about those who died and their families and wonder how this could ever have happened. "I'd known [victim] Lee for years. I worked with him when I was 16 at a local Toshiba dealer. 16 Davison strolled downhill, spraying locals with rounds from a Weatherby pump-action shotgun as he went Credit: Facebook / Jake Davison 16 He was caught on CCTV during his twisted shooting spree Credit: Plymouth Police 16 "My neighbour and I saw someone lying on the ground just up the road. We thought they were unconscious because of drug use. But they had been shot there in broad daylight. "What happened was dreadful. It's always there with you. "When you're out of the house now, you take notice of who's around. "The memories fade – they don't leave. I never used to worry about locking my door…but I do now." Another neighbour, who asked to be named only as Paul, agreed. "I suffer from PTSD," he said. The memories fade – they don't leave" Resident Victoria White "I don't think what happened should ever be forgotten and I understand why people still have questions. "But it affected me very badly and I can't talk about it." Devon and Cornwall Police has since made major changes to its firearms licensing unit - more than doubling staffing levels to 99 by 2023, improving training procedures and appointing four senior managers instead of one to assess high-risk decisions. On Biddick Drive itself, there is an understandable reluctance among neighbours to talk about the shootings. The feeling was summed up by 85-year-old Arthur Beacham, out walking his springer spaniel Barney. 16 A photo of the Weatherby pump action shotgun used by Davison next to a standard sporting style 12 – gauge over – under twin barrel shotgun (below) shown in the inquest Credit: PA 16 Those on Biddick Drive are still haunted by the horror shooting Credit: Neil Hope "It's something that wants forgetting," he said. "What happened was awful, but it's gone, it's over, and we can't bring anyone back. The man was off his head. How do you deal with people like that? "Any one of us could have been a victim. I was out with my dog that evening and my usual walk would have taken me into his path. "For some reason, I decided we'd go to St Levan's Park instead." A few streets away, Manos, a gardener, said social media had made the aftermath of the tragedy worse for some residents. What happened was awful but it's gone, it's over and we can't bring anyone back. The man was off his head. How do you deal with people like that? Arthur Beacham He said: "Years ago, if a violent crime happened in your neighbourhood, you would chat it through with your family and friends and process it gradually in your own time. "Social media changed all that. Now photos flash up as 'memories' whether you want them to or not. And even if those photos aren't directly of the scene of the crime, they can still upset you by reminding you where you were and what you were doing at the time. "They come up on some thread and people share them, and suddenly everyone is weighing in." 'Moving on' But he added that Keyham remained a place people wanted to live. "My customers love it here," he said. "I don't hear anyone saying they want to leave." Latest figures from the estate agents' website Rightmove bear that out. Average sold prices reached a peak of £167,315 in 2022 and since then have risen by a further 9% to stand at £182,817. One young mother told how she'd moved into Biddick Drive – which comprises mostly rental properties – even though some friends couldn't understand why. "I wasn't here when it all happened. I've just taken the road as I found it," she said. "The truth is, it's a lovely community. It's quiet, people talk to each other, it feels safe for kids. "As far as I'm concerned, there's no stigma. Why wouldn't you want to live here?" It's the kind of spirit that has also been embraced by local businesses. At Henderson Local Convenience Store, yards from where Davison killed himself, the owner said her family had been welcomed and supported by locals. "This place lay mostly empty after what he did," she said. "It was briefly a café, then a shop but maybe because everyone remembered what happened, these businesses quickly closed. "We came in from outside. I had to ask a customer why a candle and bouquet of flowers had been left here. That was how I discovered what had happened. "Now we have many customers and they appreciate that we're trying to give them a good service. "Keyham is a good place to live. This is a strong community and it is moving on." 16 Victoria White saw a body lying on the ground after the shooting Credit: Neil Hope 16 Floods of forensics and officers swarmed the road after the gun rampage Credit: Neil Hope
Sky News
29-04-2025
- Sky News
Incels 'slipping through the net' of government intervention, experts warn
Incels are "slipping through the net" of government efforts to intervene and deradicalise affected boys and men, experts have told Sky News. Academics, including co-authors of an independent government report on the mostly online subculture, have warned that efforts like Prevent and the Online Safety Act were struggling to fully grapple with the problem. The incel - or "involuntarily celibate" - movement is a largely, but not entirely, online subculture of males who feel unable to have sex or find love and express hostility and extreme resentment towards women. It is not the only extremist ideology that features misogynistic narratives and was described as a "manifestation of a much wider societal issue of violence against women and girls". The issue was portrayed in the recent TV show Adolescence. Often found on encrypted platforms or "dark corners of the internet", bleeding into the real world, inceldom isn't illegal but can perpetuate violence. It has been linked to a number of violent attacks in the West, including the 2021 Plymouth shooting by Jake Davison who killed five people. Misogyny as a hate crime Dr Lisa Siguira told Sky News that misogyny not being defined as a hate crime left enforcement efforts sometimes toothless to try and tackle inceldom, leaving it freer to operate. Incel content, she said, existed on a spectrum from the mildly alarming and grossly distasteful, veering into violently misogynistic but often it did not meet the threshold of illegality. So while content was mostly scrubbed from more mainstream platforms by companies themselves, incels were free to thrive in closed-off forums and on encrypted chat apps. Sky News understands the government is currently considering recommendations from the Law Commission, two of which link to the issue of misogyny as a hate crime. The Law Commission previously recommended not to make misogyny a hate crime and Rape Crisis England & Wales said that making sex and gender protected characteristics risks further complicating the judicial process, making it even harder to secure convictions. 'Slipping through the gaps' Giving another example of how incels slipped through the gaps, Dr Andrew Thomas, a co-author of an independent government report on incels, said there was sometimes confusion between services like Prevent and health and social service on who was responsible for radicalised individuals. Incels accounted for around 1% of Prevent referrals in the year 2023/24. Dr Thomas said: "The former [Prevent] often don't see incels as 'extreme' enough for Prevent relative to other groups. "They often present as men with poor social skills who need mental health and social support. "The latter come across as very extreme to the NHS and seem like a Prevent issue." Legislating the internet Dr Joe Whittaker told Sky News the issue of trying to help those drawn into inceldom was further complicated by the wider difficulties of trying to legislate the internet. He explained: "The pace of technological change moves a lot faster than the government... it took years to turn the Online Safety Bill into an act." He added: "There's a real argument we've reached the peak of what we can do with decentralised and encrypted platforms," cautioning against infringing on privacy rights. So even if enforcement efforts were given greater power, forcing websites and apps from around the world to comply would be increasingly difficult. He also pointed out lessons learned from trying to deal with extreme Islamist terrorists, where such individuals were simply forced into more shut-off areas on the internet instead of the root issues of radicalisation being dealt with. 'Scourge on our society' A government spokesperson told Sky News: "Violence against women and girls is a scourge on our society which is why we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve these crimes within a decade. "Parts of the Online Safety Act have come into force meaning companies must take action to protect users from illegal material including extreme sexual violence. "Further protections from this summer will require platforms to protect children from harmful misogynistic and violent content. "While incel ideologies make up a small fraction of referrals to Prevent, they are monitored as an emerging threat with tailored support provided to individuals.
