Crimestoppers: Public Safety and Firearms
by Gun Control Network on 11-11-2025
Press Release 10th November 2025
Crimestoppers: Public Safety and Firearms
Gun Control Network welcomes the recent launch in Cumbria of Crimestoppers’ excellent public safety initiative relating to firearms.
This launch comes after a number of tragic incidents involving licensed firearms owners who have killed and injured partners, children, close family members and members of the public. Our Domestic Abuse Case Studies page provides details of the many fatal shootings involving licensed gun-owning perpetrators. https://gun-control-network.org/domesticabusecases.
We are also aware of other incidents involving armed coercive control, irresponsible storage and careless and reckless behaviour by those with access to a gun, as well as poorly administered gun clubs and ranges. This initiative provides a timely and welcome service to the public who wish to take positive action to help keep communities safer.
Crimestoppers is a well-established and respected national charity. The organisation has many years of experience and is well equipped to identify suspected malicious calls. There is no reason to believe that this initiative might result in a greater number of malicious calls than those relating to any other criminal or suspected criminal activity — and it might well save lives.
This initiative ensures that anyone with concerns about the behaviour, mental or physical health, state of mind or safety of anyone with access to a gun, whether legally or illegally held, can now raise their concerns anonymously by phone or online.
Bereaved families in Horden, Woodmancote, Keyham (Plymouth), Epsom, the Isle of Skye and others affected by gun misuse, including those bereaved by gun suicide, welcome this public safety initiative. Bobby Turnbull, who lost three members of his family when they were killed by a licensed gun owner in a triple murder/suicide tragedy in Co. Durham, has long campaigned for this initiative. He says:
“I welcome this important initiative from Crimestoppers. If only this had been in place at the time, I believe it might have saved the lives of my mother, my sister and my aunt.”