Essex Police investigate video of man spitting on David Amess statue

Essex Police have launched an investigation following the emergence of a video appearing to show an individual spitting on the memorial statue of the late Conservative MP Sir David Amess. The footage, shared on social media by an influencer known as ‘Angry Jesus’, shows the individual directing a vulgar gesture toward the monument on the Southend seafront.

The influencer defended the act by citing Amess’s 2003 vote in favor of the UK's involvement in the Iraq War, questioning the decision to erect a statue for a man he claimed bore responsibility for deaths resulting from the conflict.

The incident occurred near the fifth anniversary of Amess’s death. Sir David, who represented Southend West for nearly 25 years, was fatally stabbed during a constituency surgery in October 2021. Former Home Secretary Priti Patel condemned the act on social media, describing the desecration of his legacy as “sickening and disgusting.”

Chief Inspector David Browning, the Southend district commander, confirmed that police are pursuing several targeted lines of enquiry regarding the report.