Daughter of David Amess Criticizes Prevent Program

Katie Amess, daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess, has criticized the government's Prevent anti-radicalization program for failing to monitor her father's killer, Ali Harbi Ali, who had been reported to the program in 2014 but was unmonitored due to an 'admin error.' Ali, who stabbed Sir David during a constituency surgery in October 2021, was known to authorities yet spent years planning the attack. Katie expressed her anguish over the systemic failures that led to her father's death, stating that Prevent is 'not fit for purpose' and has consistently failed individuals and public safety. Essex coroner Lincoln Brookes noted significant shortcomings in Ali's case management, including missed reviews and inadequate record-keeping. Katie Amess is seeking a full inquest into her father's death and has initiated legal action against the Home Office and Essex Police. She emphasized the need for accountability and change to prevent similar tragedies in the future.