Police apologise for failure to do the very best for Harry Dunn and his family
18/06/2025
A review makes 38 separate recommendations and is highly critical of the way some elements of the case were handled
A full independent review into the way Northamptonshire Police conducted the investigation into the death of Harry Dunn in a fatal collision outside RAF Croughton almost six years ago has been published today.
It makes 38 separate recommendations and is highly critical of the way some elements of the case were handled and of the disgraced former Chief Constable Nick Adderley’s leadership.
The review said Adderley had a “detrimental” impact on the investigation – including making erroneous media statements and causing a breakdown in relations with his family.
The review revealed he had been reprimanded by the Foreign Office for making inaccurate comments about suspect Anne Sacoolas’s immunity status after she had left the UK.
Adderley was sacked last year after lying about serving in the Falklands War.
Harry’s parents met with Northamptonshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Emma James, and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Danielle Stone, at a private meeting at the force’s headquarters on Monday when they were presented with the report’s findings for the first time.
ACC James said: “First and foremost, on behalf of Northamptonshire Police, I want to apologise to Harry’s family for what is now clear was a failure on our part to do the very best for the victim in this case, Harry, and his family who fought tirelessly in the years that followed to achieve justice for him.
“It’s no surprise that Harry’s mother Charlotte was so deservingly honoured just this last weekend with an MBE for her campaigning work in road safety.
“It was vitally important that Northamptonshire Police conducted this review into the most high-profile case in the Force’s history, a case where clear and significant shortcomings have now been properly and independently unearthed.
“The picture which emerges is one of a Force which has failed the family on a number of fronts, and we hope the findings, which are troubling in several respects, will provide some answers to questions which the family will have wanted to know in the years that have passed.
“I hope some good comes out of this. Much of the learning which the Force has taken from this has already been put in place and we make a number of specific recommendations for best practice at a national level.
“We have taken a deep look at ourselves and hope the transparent way we have identified failings of the past will go some way to re-building the confidence of Harry’s family and friends going forward as well as the wider public at large.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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