AN independent investigation into the violent deaths of a mother and daughter at the hands of Tilford dog breeder John Lowe in February 2014 has painted a “deeply concerning” picture of Surrey Police’s firearms licensing team at the time.

The 18-month probe by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found Surrey Police “failed to fully consider and properly assess” information concerning Lowe before returning firearms, one of which was subsequently used in the murder of Christine and Lucy Lee at his home, Keepers Cottage Stud in Waverley Lane.

The IPCC investigator found two staff members in Surrey Police’s firearms licensing team had “cases to answer” for misconduct. One has already been dismissed following a hearing, while the second retired before a hearing was held.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has ruled that neither will face criminal charges.

IPCC associate commission Tom Milsom, said: “This was a tragic and shocking incident which has had a terrible impact on Christine and Lucy’s loved ones and my thoughts remain with them.

“Our investigation paints a deeply concerning portrait of how Surrey Police’s firearms licensing team operated at that time.

“We found a unit which lacked the necessary training and processes to manage such a serious responsibility, staffed by individuals who were failing to undertake their duties with rigour and due consideration.

“The licensing of firearms is a responsibility with obvious ramifications if it is not done properly.

“Our recommendations will contribute to a significantly improved function in Surrey, and we hope forces across the country will use this as a catalyst for ensuring their licensing teams are working as effectively as necessary.”

Lowe, now 84, was jailed for life in October 2014 for the murders of Christine and Lucy Lee - eight months after shooting the two women with a shotgun as they tried to flee his farm house.

A year before the shootings, in March 2013, Surrey Police seized a shotgun licence and a number of shotguns belonging to Lowe after Stacy Banner, the daughter of Christine and sister of Lucy, reported to police that he had threatened to shoot her.

But five of these guns were returned to Lowe, unbeknown to Mrs Banner, seven months before the shootings in July 2013 following an assessment by firearms licensing officers.

The IPCC investigation found evidence that during the licence review Stanton Royle, the firearms licensing supervisor, and John Crabb, a firearms licensing enquiry officer, did not take “simple investigative steps” to address whether Mr Lowe was a danger to the public before returning the weapons.

Surrey Police agreed with the investigator and on November 18 last year, Mr Crabb attended a gross misconduct hearing where the case against him was found to be proven and he was dismissed without notice. Mr Royle retired prior to a hearing taking place.

The IPCC has also conducted a separate independent investigation concerning complaints by Mrs Banner, who in January was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence at Guildford Crown Court after she was found guilty of conspiring with Lowe to defraud his dying-partner Susanna Wilson out of more than £100,000.

This separate investigation found that a detective constable and a detective sergeant have cases to answer for misconduct, and a detective inspector has a case to answer for gross misconduct.

The gross misconduct allegation relates to the continued detention of Mrs Banner, found by the IPCC to be “not necessary”, and her arrest for a further allegation, criticised by the IPCC as a “breach of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act”.

Surrey Police is considering the IPCC’s findings and a decision will be made on what action will follow in due course.

Announcing her intention to sue the force in the wake of the IPCC investigation, Mrs Banner said: “It is devastating to see your worst fears confirmed in black and white about how those entrusted with the public safety can abuse and neglect their powers. But for the police’s failings, my mum and sister would be here today.”

Surrey Police assistant chief constable Helen Collins said: “The safety of the public has always been our primary concern and it was extremely important to us that in light of these events, changes were made quickly and efficiently to ensure we could be confident in our decision-making practices.

“In 2014, the force commissioned two independent reports from Hampshire Constabulary and North Yorkshire Police which indicated the decision by firearms licensing officers to return weapons to John Lowe was flawed and did not meet national standards.

“We spoke with members of Christine and Lucy Lee’s family at that time to advise them of these findings and to apologise for that decision.

“As a result of those reports, we conducted a comprehensive review of our firearms licensing in the years since 2014 and instigated the recommendations from both independent reports.

“Further changes were made following the national inspection by the HMIC in 2015 and we have also taken on board the findings of the IPCC investigation which concluded in February 2016.”