SURREY Police's decision to return seized shotguns to farmer John Lowe, today convicted of double murder, was "flawed", an investigation has found.
Christine and Lucy Lee suffered fatal gunshot wounds at Lowe's farm in Tilford on February 23.
Today Lowe, 82, was found guilty of double murder following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.
In March 2013, Surrey Police seized a shotgun licence and a number of shotguns belonging to Lowe and four months later returned them to him following an assessment by firearms licensing officers.
Less than a year later, he killed the two women, as well as three German Shepherds and a Mastiff, on his Keepers Cottage farm.
A statement from the police force said today: "After his arrest, Surrey Police immediately referred this previous contact to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
"They determined the force should conduct a supervised investigation into our decision to return the weapons.
"We commissioned two independent reports by firearms licensing experts from Hampshire Constabulary and North Yorkshire Police. The initial findings from both reports indicate the decision was flawed and did not meet national standards.
"Whilst the full investigation into this matter remains on-going, in light of these early findings we have spoken with members of Christine and Lucy Lee's family to apologise for this."
Three Surrey Police employees are still being investigated for gross misconduct and the IPCC has decided to carry out its own investigation.
The statement adds: "The safety of the public is our primary concern and we have already taken steps to ensure our firearms licensing policy and procedures are in line with national best practice.
"We are also instigating the recommendations from both reports and reviewing all cases where licences and firearms have been removed and returned to their holders in the last three years."
