Dunn family call for resignation of police chief after ‘disgraceful’ tweet

The family of Harry Dunn have called for a police chief’s resignation after a “disgraceful” tweet.

Mr Dunn was killed in a motorbike crash in Northamptonshire on August 27.

Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley commented on potential legal action against 42-year-old suspect Anne Sacoolas and US President Donald Trump’s administration by saying: “How sad but how predictable.”

Mr Adderley has since deleted the tweet.

Northamptonshire Fire, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Stephen Mold has said he has spoken to Mr Adderley about keeping force communication “professional and sensitive at all times”.

The police chief has since said he “meant no offence” and apologised if his tweet had been “misconstrued or misinterpreted”.

Mrs Sacoolas is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road when she hit 19-year-old Mr Dunn’s motorbike outside RAF Croughton.

In a statement, the spokesman for Mr Dunn’s family, Radd Seiger, said: “We call on (Chief Constable Nick Adderley) to resign immediately following his disgraceful now deleted tweet on Tuesday.

“Mr Adderley has displayed a staggering degree of unprofessionalism with this tweet such that he no longer commands the confidence of the family.

“This is simply the straw that broke the camel’s back, coming as it does on the back of apparent misconduct and/or incompetence in the handling of this investigation and their egregious breaches of the victims code in not supporting the family or keeping them informed.

“It is with a heavy heart that Harry Dunn’s family feel that Mr Adderley should now do the honourable thing and resign.”

The family have already announced their intentions to refer Northamptonshire Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over their handling of the investigation.

Continuing his statement on Twitter, Mr Seiger made reference to how the family had been “abandoned” by authorities.

He continued: “The attempted explanations lack credibility and do not alter our view that Mr Adderley should go and it is the family’s hope that any successor will approach us with a view to building bridges so that we can move forward together in the letter and spirit of the victims code.

“A Chief Constable has overall responsibility for leading the Force, creating a vision and setting direction and culture that builds public and organisational confidence and trust, and enables the delivery of a professional, effective and efficient policing service.

“By expressing his personal negative views on what are totally normal legal steps that any family would take in these circumstances, Mr Adderley has shown that he is not fit to fulfil this role – the comment, coming as it does on the back of the way in which the family have been abandoned by the authorities.

“The family remain laser focused on getting #Justice4Harry despite this unfortunate episode.”

In a statement issued by Mr Adderley, he said: “The tweet was in reference to the profound sadness and loss of Harry Dunn, that the spokesperson for the family has been absolutely clear on the next steps in fighting for justice for Harry and that the only recourse for justice that they feel that they have available to them at the moment is through the US civil court system.

“I deleted it with a view to re-writing it with more context but was called away to deal with something else.

“I meant no offence by my tweet and apologise if it has been in anyway misconstrued or misinterpreted.

“This is an extremely tragic case in which a young man has lost his life and Northamptonshire Police is committed to carrying out a thorough and comprehensive investigation with a view to submitting a completed file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service shortly.”

Commenting on the tweet, Mr Mold said in a statement: “I know that Northamptonshire Police has throughout sought to investigate Harry Dunn’s death thoroughly and fairly so that the family can find the justice they seek.

“I am sorry that this tweet has distracted from the important work taking place to resolve this tragic situation.

“I am grateful that it was brought to my attention and I have spoken to the chief constable about the need for all force communication – on this and all other issues – to remain professional and sensitive at all times.”