Harry Dunn family’s spokesman lodges complaint with Northamptonshire Police

The spokesman for the family of motorcyclist Harry Dunn is lodging a formal complaint against a police force after accusing them of ‘causing enormous distress’ to the teenager’s parents.    

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn lodged a complaint with Northamptonshire Police over their comments on a reported Interpol Red Notice issued for their son’s alleged killer Anne Sacoolas.

The parents said they were ‘livid’ and ‘furious’ after the force said ‘at no point’ had it informed their spokesman Radd Seiger that the notice had been sent out.     

An e-mail sent by the force addressed to Mr Seiger said Ms Sacoolas was ‘wanted internationally’ and ‘the wanted circulations should be enacted’ should she leave the U.S.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn lodged a complaint with Northamptonshire Police over their comments on a reported Interpol Red Notice

The parents lodged the complaint after the police force said 'at no point' had it informed their spokesperson Radd Seiger (pictured with Harry Dunn's parents in 2019) that the notice had been sent out

The parents lodged the complaint after the police force said ‘at no point’ had it informed their spokesperson Radd Seiger (pictured with Harry Dunn’s parents in 2019) that the notice had been sent out

Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year

Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year

Mrs Charles and Mr Dunn said their lawyers had explained to them that the e-mail meant an Interpol Red Notice was issued for Ms Sacoolas.

It is understood that Mr Seiger had responded to the original e-mail, telling the force he would be informing the parents that a Red Notice had been issued.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday, the force said: ‘We wish to make it absolutely clear that, at no point, has Northamptonshire Police informed the family spokesperson for the Dunns, Radd Seiger, that an Interpol Red Notice has been issued in respect of Mrs Anne Sacoolas.

‘Given that this remains a live case it would be inappropriate to comment further. However, Northamptonshire Police continues to support the Dunn family at this difficult time.’

In its statement, the force did not specify what exact action had been taken in respect of the suspect.

The 19-year-old’s parents said the statement was ‘unprofessional’ and ‘pathetic’.

Mr Seiger said: ‘I will be making a formal complaint to Chief Constable Nick Adderley’s boss, Chief and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold, this evening.’ 

Ms Sacoolas was eventually charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December

Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December

Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles and stepfather Bruce Charles outside the Ministry Of Justice in London late last year

Harry Dunn’s mother Charlotte Charles and stepfather Bruce Charles outside the Ministry Of Justice in London late last year

Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

Ms Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country.

Timeline of events following Harry Dunn’s death 

27 August 2019: Harry Dunn, 19, killed while riding his motorcycle near Croughton, Northamptonshire near the exit to RAF Croughton, when it collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction

28 August 2019: Suspect Anne Sacoolas is interviewed by police. Northamptonshire police request a diplomatic immunity waver 

16 September 2019: Foreign office informs police that the waiver had been declined and that Sacoolas had left the UK on a US Air Force aircraft 

15 October 2019: Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn take their campaign for justice to the US where they meet with President Trump at the White House. They refuse meet the suspect, who was waiting in a room next door

31 October 2019: Northamptonshire police interview Sacoolas in the US after requesting permission to do so 

25 November 2019: Dunn’s parents submit a judicial review of the Foreign Secretary’s actions over the extension of diplomatic immunity to intelligence staff and families at RAF Croughton

20 December 2019: Crown Prosecution Service announces that Sacoolas to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving and that it was starting extradition proceedings against her 

10 January: Home Office formally requests the extradition of Sacoolas to face charges in the United Kingdom 

23 January: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally rejects request for extradition 

28 April: Charlotte and Tim write a letter to the US Government, urging it to change its mind on the diplomatic immunity granted to Sacoolas 

11 May: An Interpol Red Notice is issued for Sacoolas’ arrest 

She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December but an extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January – a move the State Department has since described as ‘final’.

Reacting to Northamptonshire Police’s statement, Mrs Charles and Mr Dunn said: ‘Why have they done this? The first we learned of this statement was from reading tweets in the media. Radd was busy on other things and it hit us like a bolt of lightning, out of the blue.

‘We are both suffering terribly at the moment from stress and anxiety. We panicked and didn’t know what to do.

‘The damage was done and we are livid, furious at Northamptonshire Police for doing what they did.

‘How unprofessional of them and for whoever made them attempt this pathetic correction.

‘Our lawyers and Radd have explained to us that the words from Northamptonshire Police mean that a Red Notice was circulated.

‘These people are clearly trying to attack Radd and therefore us. He is our friend. He is our neighbour.’

Mr Dunn’s parents continued: ‘No one in authority came to help us after Harry died. He was the only one.

‘He has devoted his whole life to us and to try to make things safer in the community.

‘He tries to engage everyone out there in dialogue to try to resolve disputes. How dare they do this to him and us.

‘My son Harry died and the suspect was allowed to flee the country by this pathetic government.

‘They all need to do their jobs properly and spare us these unwelcome surprises.

‘They could not make our lives more miserable if they tried. We were eventually able to speak to Radd who was able to calm us down and explain things.

‘We have now seen his response which has made us feel a little better.’

Tweeting about the statement, Mr Seiger said: ‘Northamptonshire Police have this pm issued the attached statement, which has succeeded in only causing enormous distress to Harry Dunn’s parents for which the authorities should be thoroughly ashamed.

‘The best that Northamptonshire Police could come up with today was a non-denial denial which says that they did not tell us that a Red Notice had been issued.

‘May I please remind all those in authority that there is a grieving family at the heart of this case and any attempt on your part to gaslight or mislead, or to attack me personally in any way, constitutes an attack on them.’

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said they would not be commenting further than the statement already issued.

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