A critical review of the Harry Dunn case has found that the Foreign Office did not handle it as a crisis following the tragic death of the 19-year-old. The review highlighted the incident in 2019 when US national Anne Sacoolas, driving on the wrong side of the road, caused a fatal collision with the teenage motorcyclist. Despite the tragedy, Sacoolas, who had diplomatic immunity, was allowed to leave the UK 19 days later.
Dame Anne Owers’ review, released today, criticized the then-Tory government for missing chances to influence events and for poor communication from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). It noted a loophole in the UK-US agreement regarding immunity for staff at RAF Croughton, which was exploited when Sacoolas’ immunity was not waived, resulting in her departure from the UK.
Harry Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, blamed the FCO for forcing her to launch a justice campaign due to the perceived mishandling of the case. She accused the US of exploiting the diplomatic immunity system and expressed frustration with the delayed response from UK officials compared to their American counterparts.
The review highlighted the lack of recognition of the crisis early on, leading to missed opportunities to engage effectively with the family. It acknowledged significant changes, including closing legal loopholes and improving road safety. The recommendations, endorsed by the government, emphasized the need for direct and regular communication with families in similar high-profile cases involving diplomatic complexities.
After a three-year campaign for justice, Harry’s family met with US President Donald Trump, and Sacoolas eventually pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper praised the family’s resilience and accepted the review’s recommendations to improve support for victims in similar crises.
The UK government is committed to learning from this tragedy to ensure that families facing similar crises receive the support they deserve without having to fight for it.