Evening News, Wednesday, June 26 1996
TAKING AIM AT GUN LAW
By Stephen Smith
Cullen Inquiry

THE new Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police will today tell the Cullen Inquiry what senior police officers think about firearms control.

Roy Cameron, currently top policeman in Dumfries and Galloway, will give evidence on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The 21st day of the inquiry will concentrate on expert witnesses suggesting how gun laws can be improved.

Criticise

Yesterday bereaved families won the right to criticise decisions taken by Procurators Fiscals' offices not to prosecute school killer Thomas Hamilton.

A day of legal debate ended with two former fiscals - who had decided no charges should be brought against Hamilton after police investigations - giving evidence.  Lord Cullen LINK ruled that other parties were not allowed to cross-examine them LINK. But lawyers acting for the families won a partial victory by winning the right to comment on the evidence about why Thomas Hamilton was never prosecuted.

An 18-page report from the Crown Office explained why four different fiscals decided not to take action against Hamilton.

The report dated back to 1988 when the first police investigation about Hamilton was made, when boys claimed they were assaulted by him at a summer camp at Loch Lomond. LINK

Earlier Colin Campbell QC, representing the families, made a plea for the right to scrutinise what the officials did because he said the Crown Office report raised "serious questions" about decision-making.

Scotland's churches have called for a ban on private ownership of automatic or semi-automatic handguns.

A submission to the Cullen Inquiry by ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland), which has its headquarters in Dunblane, also argued for stricter controls on certification of all privately owned firearms and for handguns used at sporting clubs to be held securely on club premises. LINK

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Copyright © 2016 William Burns. All rights reserved.
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