CUMBRIA police acted correctly when they issued gunman Derrick Bird with his shotgun licences, a review has concluded.

The 52-year-old taxi driver from Rowrah killed 12 people and wounded 11 others in a shooting spree on June 2, before turning the gun on himself.

The review ordered by Cumbria police concluded that arrangements for firearm, shot-gun and explosive certification in Cumbria are ‘robust’ and that people involved have the ‘appropriate knowledge, skills and experience’.

Adrian Whiting, chair of the Association of Police Officers Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group, compiled the report.

“Derrick Bird had fulfilled the necessary requirements for issue [of firearms]. Home visits had been conducted,” he said. “Neither police, agencies, nor the public were in possession of any information that may have been able to indicate to the police that Derrick Bird should reasonably have his certificates revoked and firearms seized.”

Bird had held a shotgun licence since 1974, when he was 16, and had successfully applied for renewal on a number of occasions – the latest in 2005. In 2007 he got a firearms certificate for a .22 rifle.

He had told police he wanted to shoot pests, for clay pigeon shooting and game shooting.

Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: “I wanted Derrick Bird’s victims, the families of those who were killed, the community and our police officers and staff to be confident that our firearms licensing procedures were robust and fit for purpose.

“ACC Whiting’s review has confirmed that Bird owned his firearms lawfully and we could not have used our licensing process to identify him as a risk or prevent the tragic shootings.”

The report suggested changes to the national licensing system and Mr Whiting suggested a ban for people possessing licensed weapons for five years if they have received a suspended jail sentence.

In 1990, Bird was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for a year, for stealing.

He also had a drink-driving conviction but could keep his shotgun certificate because only time served in prison would have triggered an automatic ban on him keeping guns.

A review of how Cumbria police dealt with the shootings is ongoing.