Katie Amess, the daughter of the late Conservative MP Sir David Amess, has expressed her desire for answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her father’s tragic death. In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, she emphasized that authorities failed to protect her father adequately and called for a thorough investigation.

Sir David was murdered on October 15, 2021, during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. His killer, Ali Harbi Ali, is currently serving a whole-life sentence for the crime. In light of ongoing legal proceedings related to a case initiated by Ms. Amess, both the Home Office and Essex Police refrained from commenting on the matter.

Ms. Amess voiced frustration over the lack of communication from authorities, stating that it was crucial to learn from past mistakes to prevent future tragedies. She raised concerns about why police did not respond to prior warnings about threats against her father. The night before the attack, her brother received a call indicating that Sir David would be killed—this information was reported to law enforcement.

Although authorities later determined that the call was unrelated to the murder, Ms. Amess argued that any threat should have warranted police intervention at her father’s surgery the following day. She remarked that had officers been present, her father might still be alive and insisted on a full investigation into why police failed to respond appropriately.

Essex Police confirmed they investigated following the threat report and arrested two individuals but stated that they do not typically provide security for MPs during constituency surgeries. They clarified that there was no connection between this incident and Sir David’s murder.

Additionally, Ms. Amess urged for an inquiry into how Ali managed to evade national security measures despite being previously referred to a counter-extremism program as a teenager. The senior coroner had decided not to resume Sir David’s inquest due to insufficient evidence linking past interventions to his murder.

Ms. Amess criticized this decision, arguing that understanding the events leading up to her father’s death is vital for preventing similar incidents. She highlighted numerous failures in the system and lamented being denied an open inquest.

Currently residing in California, she has filed a personal injury claim against both the Home Office and Essex Police but faces financial hurdles in pursuing civil action. Despite these challenges, she remains dedicated to seeking justice for her father while recalling him as an incredibly hard-working and passionate individual who loved serving his community.