On Monday 22 November, the day of the funeral service of the late Sir David Amess MP at St Mary’s Church, Prittlewell, the House of Lords debated Emergency Services: Ministers of Religion. The Conservative MP was fatally stabbed multiple times during a meeting with his constituents in Essex on Friday 15 October. A priest seeking to administer the last rites to Sir David was reportedly turned away from the crime scene by police.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston proposed Amendment 292E to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Amendment  292E, after Clause 170) which for crimes scenes would introduce a presumption “that the constable in charge will allow entry to the crime scene to a minister of religion in order to perform religious rituals or prayer associated with dying.” However, the amendment was withdrawn after debate and no decision was taken on it. Continue reading →