“I am very angry that for the second time during the pandemic there has been a flagrant breach of the Covid-19 rules at another traveller funeral in Dunstable today. Bedfordshire Police tell me they estimate that there were between 400 to 500 people present when only 30 are allowed at a funeral. This is completely unacceptable. It is no longer just a question of inconvenience because yet again West Street was blocked, but my constituents lives are being put at risk by such a large group gathering in defiance of the COVID-19 regulations.
A funeral should always be a respectful event for those we love but it also needs to be legal and fully compliant with public health regulations. I am extremely cross that this has happened yet again and I do not expect there to be any further repetition of such events. It doesn’t matter to me whether you are Dominic Cummings, Margaret Ferrier MP or grieving traveller families, we are all under the law and it is simply not right or acceptable for the rest of the population who have made such sacrifices to see others getting away with such behaviour.
Bedfordshire Police have told me that they will be initiating enforcement action from the Video evidence they recorded today and I will be asking the Police to give me a full account of the enforcement activity they have taken. I expect Bedfordshire Police and all the partners that they work with in relation to funerals to have a sufficient presence on the ground to stop any repetition of what we saw today.”
Andrew Selous MP