Lord Hughes recently released a 174-page report as part of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry. However, a section of the report is expected to remain classified for up to 100 years due to national security concerns. The inquiry, led by the retired Supreme Court judge, involved closed-door interviews with various witnesses, including Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Commander Dominic Murphy and an anonymous scientific adviser from Porton Down.
The closed section contains sensitive evidence related to the security services’ decisions regarding double agent Sergei Skripal’s safety in the UK. Lord Hughes emphasized that the classified information must remain sealed to safeguard national security and protect individuals from potential harm. The Home Secretary holds the authority to decide if the restricted material will ever be made public.
In his findings, Lord Hughes attributed moral responsibility to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of Dawn Sturgess, who tragically succumbed to Novichok poisoning in 2018. The report highlighted the involvement of Russian operatives in the assassination attempts on Skripal and emphasized the Russian state’s culpability in the attacks.
The inquiry, which spanned seven weeks and included testimonies from various witnesses, underscored the recklessness of the Russian agents in carrying out the attacks. Lord Hughes exonerated British authorities, stating that enhanced security measures would not have thwarted the nerve agent attack on Skripal. The report did not include specific recommendations, prompting criticism from Dawn’s family regarding the lack of accountability and preventive measures.
The family expressed concerns about the UK government’s handling of the situation and highlighted the need for improved risk assessment and security protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They also criticized the initial portrayal of Dawn by Wiltshire Police and called for greater transparency in public health communication regarding the risks associated with Novichok.