James McMurdock has slammed the police after an Amazon delivery driver was filmed walking into his home in Essex.
The Independent MP shared footage of the incident at his house in Basildon, showing a man in a black jacket ring the doorbell, before entering moments later. Another voice off-screen can be heard exclaiming “woah” as the worker quickly apologises and retreats outside.
Mr McMurdock told the People’s Channel he was fortunate to be in the property at the time.
He told GB News: “I had to act quickly to protect my family and my home, and it was deeply unsettling to realise how easily someone could enter without warning.
James McMurdock said it is ‘not good enough’
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GB NEWS
“I had three of my young children on the living room floor, just feet behind me, and if I had been anywhere else in the house, who knows what could have happened next, it was deeply frightening.
“It’s certainly something that, from my position as a parliamentarian, needs to be examined carefully so we can consider how to improve safety for the whole country.”
Despite contacting 999 immediately, Mr McMurdock said he was left frustrated and disappointed by their response, which he described as inadequate.
“I obviously rang 999 and explained the situation to them, but what really exacerbated this and forced me to think about it more strategically, in terms of how we protect everyone in the country, was their response.
“I want to stress that I take no pleasure in criticising our frontline services, these individuals do some truly heroic work but the response yesterday was, in my view, somewhat lacking.
“A grown man had entered someone’s home, and while there is a lot of legal nuance around intent, which is naturally where the police focus, in this case assumptions were being made that simply didn’t reflect the reality.
The MP shared video footage of the event, showing a man in a black jacket ring the doorbell, try the handle, and push his way inside
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GB NEWS
“Here we had a member of Parliament, a grown man had stormed into his house, and the answer I was given was essentially, ‘It’s a civil matter.’
“I was so shocked that I dialled 999 again a few minutes later just to make sure they fully understood what had happened and they did. Frankly, that is not good enough.”
The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock urged the public to ensure their doors are locked, even when stepping out for a brief errand, arguing that complacency could have serious consequences.
He called on lawmakers to consider the implications of a society in which ordinary citizens could be so easily exposed to potential danger, emphasising the need for a careful review of both policing protocols and legal frameworks.
“This incident demonstrates the potential for serious harm and highlights the need for a national conversation about how we keep our homes and families safe,” he said.
Trespass is not a criminal offence in the UK and is typically not dealt with by officers, rather it is a civil matter that can be pursued through court.
However, cases of aggravated trespass, when a person is seeking to intimidate, obstruct or disrupt another person’s lawful activity on that land, are unlawful under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
An Amazon spokesman said: “We have very high standards for the delivery service providers we work with. We’re looking into this matter and have reached out to the customer.”
