Independent review published into the UK government's response to the death of Harry Dunn in 2019

The UK government has accepted all of the recommendations in full.

An independent review into the UK government’s response to the death of Harry Dunn has been published today.  

Harry Dunn was tragically killed in a road traffic collision in August 2019, caused by a US national, Anne Sacoolas, near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire. 

In July 2025, the government announced an independent review, led by Dame Anne Owers DBE and commissioned by former Foreign Secretary David Lammy, to examine actions taken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in support of the family of Harry Dunn in the period between 27 August and the end of December in 2019. 

The final report of the independent review has now been published and includes 12 recommendations, focused on improving HM Government’s (HMG) response to deaths and serious incidents and the support provided to families and victims. 

HMG supported the process in full, providing access to officials and documents to ensure the call for an independent review from the family of Harry Dunn was properly fulfilled.

It found that failures and omissions were made in dealing with the incident, including failing to recognise the family as allies in achieving justice. We have accepted all of the recommendations – 10 which relate to the FCDO, one for Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and one for Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 

I have huge respect for the dignity and resolve Harry’s family has shown throughout the period since his tragic death.  

On behalf of the UK government, I thank Dame Anne Owers for undertaking this important review, and the government accepts her recommendations in full.

We are committed to learning the lessons from this tragedy – especially on support for victims, ensuring that no family facing a crisis of this kind should have to fight for the support they rightly deserve.