Independent Review Criticizes Foreign Office Over Handling of Harry Dunn Case
Published 3 December 2025
Highlights
- An independent review found the Foreign Office withheld crucial information from Harry Dunn's family after his death in August 2019.
- Anne Sacoolas, a US State Department employee, left the UK under diplomatic immunity, sparking controversy and distrust.
- The review criticized the Foreign Office for missed opportunities to influence US decisions and for delayed communication with the Dunn family.
- Sacoolas pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving in 2022, receiving an eight-month suspended sentence.
- Recommendations include increased resources and early ministerial involvement in similar future cases.
An independent review has sharply criticized the UK's Foreign Office for its handling of the tragic death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn, who was killed in a motorcycle crash outside a US military base in Northamptonshire in August 2019. The review, led by Dame Anne Owers, found significant failings in how the department managed the case, particularly in its communication with Dunn's family and its interactions with US authorities.
Diplomatic Immunity Controversy
Harry Dunn was fatally struck by a car driven on the wrong side of the road by Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US State Department official stationed at RAF Croughton. Sacoolas, who had been in the UK for just three weeks, was allowed to leave the country under diplomatic immunity, a decision that has since been heavily scrutinized. The review highlighted that the Foreign Office missed crucial opportunities to influence the US government before Sacoolas's departure.
Communication Failures
The report revealed that the Foreign Office failed to treat the incident as a crisis and delayed informing Dunn's family about Sacoolas's immunity and her subsequent departure from the UK. It was not until 26 September 2019, nearly a month after Dunn's death, that the family was officially informed, despite having already learned of her departure through other sources. This delay fostered a sense of distrust and suspicion of a cover-up between UK and US authorities.
Legal Proceedings and Recommendations
In 2022, Sacoolas pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and received an eight-month suspended sentence. The review recommended that the Foreign Office implement an "immediate surge of resources" and ensure early ministerial involvement in similar cases to prevent such oversights in the future.
What this might mean
The findings of this independent review could lead to significant changes in how the UK handles diplomatic immunity cases, particularly those involving serious incidents. The recommendations for increased resources and early ministerial involvement may help prevent future diplomatic controversies. Politically, the case has strained UK-US relations, and the review's findings may prompt further discussions on revising diplomatic immunity agreements. As the Dunn family continues to seek justice, this case underscores the need for transparent and timely communication between governments and affected families.
