Independent Review into Sir David Amess's Murder Sparks Calls for Public Inquiry

Former Conservative Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland has been appointed to lead an independent review into the circumstances surrounding the murder of MP Sir David Amess. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the appointment in a letter to the Amess family, emphasizing Buckland's "deep expertise and a thoughtful, sensitive approach." Sir David Amess was stabbed multiple times during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in October 2021. His murderer, Ali Harbi Ali, a self-identified Islamic State supporter, received a whole-life sentence in 2022. Notably, Ali had been referred to the anti-radicalization program Prevent seven years prior to the murder, but his case was closed in 2016.

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Katie Amess, Sir David's daughter, expressed the family's willingness to engage with the review in "good faith." However, she reiterated their longstanding demand for a "full statutory inquiry" into her father's death, stating that a review does not equate to the level of scrutiny they seek. She highlighted that the circumstances of her father's murder raise significant questions about security and whether opportunities to prevent the attack were missed.

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Radd Seiger, a spokesman for the Amess family, echoed this sentiment, asserting that the distinction between a review and a public inquiry is crucial. He stated, "A review does not carry the same powers to compel evidence, to test that evidence in public, or to deliver full transparency and accountability." Seiger emphasized that the case raises "profound questions" about systemic failings in prevention, intelligence, or protection.

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The Amess family's calls for a public inquiry have previously been met with resistance. In March 2022, then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected their request for a public inquiry, a decision that the family described as "totally unacceptable" and "insulting." Following the appointment of Buckland, Seiger reaffirmed the family's commitment to pressing the government for a full public inquiry, stating that only such an inquiry would provide the necessary level of scrutiny.

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The independent review led by Sir Robert Buckland is set to commence, with the Amess family participating in shaping its terms of reference. However, their position remains clear: they will continue to advocate for a full public inquiry to ensure transparency and accountability regarding the tragic circumstances of Sir David Amess's murder. The family believes that addressing these issues is of national importance, not just for them but for the public at large.

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