Latest news with #diplomaticimmunity
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Harry Dunn's family expecting a 'painful' government review
The spokesperson for the family of Harry Dunn has said he expects a government review into how the former Conservative government handled the case to be "painfully embarrassing".Mr Dunn, a 19-year-old motorcyclist, was hit by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by Anne Sacoolas near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in left the country after the incident, with the US State Department claiming she had diplomatic immunity from Monday, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed a review would be held to look into the handling of the case. The Conservatives, who were in government at the time, have been approached for comment. The review will be led by Dame Anne Owers, who will look at the actions of the FO between Mr Dunn's death on 27 August and the end of the pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving in 2022 and was given an eight-month suspended jail UK government allowed her to leave the country after the incident and, in the family's view, gave inappropriate advice on the issue of immunity. Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos, Radd Seiger said: "I think it will be painfully embarrassing for the then Tory government."We know the Foreign Office is a wonderful establishment that looks after British citizens all around the world, but what it isn't good at is helping people locally."I think [the review] is going to be a very revealing exercise. We want to do this constructively, we don't want to be destructive – we aren't asking for people to be held to account."We just want to make sure that if this ever happens again that the government puts its best foot forward and doesn't run away from the problem." Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who announced the review, said: "We are honouring the commitments we have made to [the Dunn family]."I am confident the review into how the case was handled by the previous government has the remit required to properly address the family's concerns and to ensure lessons are learned." The FO said the review's final report would be published in full, subject only to redactions relating to national security or personal will look at the role of the FO but not the actions of the US announcement came just over a week after an independent report criticised Northamptonshire Police, which apologised for its handling of the investigation. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Review to look at handling of Harry Dunn case
The Foreign Office (FO) has announced an independent review into how the government handled the case of Harry Dunn, a motorcyclist killed outside a US military base in the UK. Mr Dunn, 19, was hit by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by Anne Sacoolas at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in 2019. She left the country after the incident, with the US state department claiming she had diplomatic immunity from prosecution. The review will be led by Dame Anne Owers, who will examine actions taken by the FO in support of the 19-year-old's family between his death on 27 August and the end of December 2019. Sacoolas pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving in 2022 and was given an eight-month suspended jail term. The UK government allowed her to leave the country after the incident and, in the family's view, gave inappropriate advice on the issue of immunity. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "I have the deepest respect for the resolve Harry's family have shown since his tragic death and in launching this independent review, we are honouring the commitments we have made to them. "I am confident the review into how the case was handled by the previous government has the remit required to properly address the family's concerns and to ensure lessons are learned." Mr Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, described the review as "welcome". The teenager's family has repeatedly criticised the way the case was dealt with by both the US and UK governments. She said: "We now look forward to working with Dame Anne Owers and doing all we can to support her in this important task. "It is our sincere hope that her work will help ensure that no other family is ever treated in the way that ours was. "This review is yet another step in our long journey towards ensuring that Harry's loss was not in vain and that the world is a better and safer place." Dame Anne said: "I am pleased to have been asked by the Foreign Secretary to carry out this work in the context of the tragic death of Harry Dunn, and to identify any lessons for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. "I very much hope that this will provide some assurance to Harry's family." The FO said the review's final report will be published in full, subject only to redactions relating to national security or personal information. It will look at the role of the FO, but not the actions of the US government. Monday's announcement came just over a week after an independent report criticised Northamptonshire Police, who apologised for their handling of the investigation. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Police 'should have arrested' fatal crash diplomat What happened in the Harry Dunn case? Coroner criticises US government in Harry Dunn case Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Review of handling of case of Northamptonshire teen Harry Dunn
The Foreign Office (FO) has announced an independent review into how the government handled the case of Harry Dunn, a motorcyclist killed outside a US military base in the Dunn, 19, was hit by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by Anne Sacoolas at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in left the country after the incident, with the US state department claiming she had diplomatic immunity from review will be led by Dame Anne Owers, who will examine actions taken by the FO in support of the 19-year-old's family between his death on 27 August and the end of December 2019. Sacoolas pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving in 2022 and was given an eight-month suspended jail UK government allowed her to leave the country after the incident and, in the family's view, gave inappropriate advice on the issue of Secretary David Lammy said: "I have the deepest respect for the resolve Harry's family have shown since his tragic death and in launching this independent review, we are honouring the commitments we have made to them."I am confident the review into how the case was handled by the previous government has the remit required to properly address the family's concerns and to ensure lessons are learned." Mr Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, described the review as "welcome".The teenager's family has repeatedly criticised the way the case was dealt with by both the US and UK said: "We now look forward to working with Dame Anne Owers and doing all we can to support her in this important task. "It is our sincere hope that her work will help ensure that no other family is ever treated in the way that ours was. "This review is yet another step in our long journey towards ensuring that Harry's loss was not in vain and that the world is a better and safer place." Dame Anne said: "I am pleased to have been asked by the Foreign Secretary to carry out this work in the context of the tragic death of Harry Dunn, and to identify any lessons for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. "I very much hope that this will provide some assurance to Harry's family." The FO said the review's final report will be published in full, subject only to redactions relating to national security or personal will look at the role of the FO, but not the actions of the US announcement came just over a week after an independent report criticised Northamptonshire Police, who apologised for their handling of the investigation. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Foreign Office faces inquiry over its handling of Harry Dunn case
The family of Harry Dunn, the motorcyclist killed in a crash outside a US military base in the UK, said an inquiry into how the Foreign Office (FO) handled the case would start within 19-year-old's bike was hit by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by Anne Sacoolas at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in left the country after the incident, with the US claiming she had diplomatic immunity from Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles has described the review as a "welcome step". The family has repeatedly criticised the way the case was dealt with by both the US and UK Charles said: "We hope this inquiry will be a genuine, independent search for truth, not just for our sake, but to ensure that no other family ever has to endure what we did."No bereaved family should ever be treated the way we were." Sacoolas pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving in 2022 and was handed an eight-month suspended jail UK government allowed her to leave the country after the incident and, in the family's view, gave inappropriate advice on the issue of Charles said the UK government at the time was rude, "brutal" and failed to engage with of the family said they met officials at the FO on Wednesday and were told an inquiry would be chaired by former chief inspector of prisons Dame Anne is understood the review will not consider the involvement of the US government or any issues covered in previous court hearings. The announcement of the review comes just over a week after an independent report criticised Northamptonshire Police for their handling of the investigation. It said that, while Sacoolas was in a state of shock, she "could and should have been arrested" after the Police has apologised, saying it failed "to do the very best for the victim".The Foreign Office has so far declined to comment. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Guardian
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US government role to be excluded in review into Harry Dunn's death
A parliamentary review into how the UK's Foreign Office handled the death of the teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn will not include scrutiny of the role or actions of the US government, it is understood. The 19-year-old's family met senior officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Wednesday where they were told the probe will be led by former chief inspector of prisons Dame Anne Owers. The review is expected to examine the support the FCDO offered the Dunn family after Harry was killed by a former US state department employee in a road crash in 2019 in Northamptonshire, the PA news agency reported. The American driver, Anne Sacoolas, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf after the incident outside RAF Croughton before a senior Foreign Office official said they should 'feel able' to put her on the next flight home. PA understands the review, which is scheduled to last for three months, is also set to look at the actions taken by the Foreign Office in the months after Harry's death and the nature of internal decision-making. It will also look to identify lessons to be learned for the FCDO for comparable future situations. The involvement of the US government, which asserted diplomatic immunity on behalf of Sacoolas, will not be examined alongside any issues covered in previous court hearings. The Dunn family's spokesperson Radd Seiger told PA: 'I think overall the family are feeling that we are going to leave a legacy for Harry, which is that no family should ever be treated the way this family were by their own government. 'The American government really were stepping on their rights; nobody really from the government stepped forward to help them. 'Dame Anne is going to look into all of this and make a series of recommendations to David Lammy that should this ever happen again, whether here or abroad, that they will get the support and representation of the government that they need. So we are very, very pleased. 'The reason we got justice for Harry in the end was no thanks to the United Kingdom government; it was thanks to the British public and the media on both sides of the Atlantic, who spoke truth to power and made sure that we held them to account.' Last week, Northamptonshire police apologised for 'clear and significant shortcomings' in its investigation into Dunn's death after a review found the force 'failed his family on a number of fronts'.
