The family of Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess has issued a powerful call for "reflection and change," expressing deep concern over a public inquiry's final report which contained no formal recommendations. Dawn Sturgess, 44, died in July 2018 after being exposed to the military-grade nerve agent in Amesbury, Wiltshire.
A Family's Grief and a Search for Answers
Speaking after the publication of the £8.3 million Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report, her father, Stan Sturgess, told reporters the family could now finally lay his daughter to rest. "She’s been public for seven years. We can finally put her to peace," he said. The inquiry, chaired by Lord Hughes of Ombersley, concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "astonishingly reckless" and bears "moral responsibility" for Ms Sturgess's death.
In a formal statement, the family highlighted what they called a "serious concern" that an adequate risk assessment was not conducted for former spy Sergei Skripal prior to the attack, and no protective steps were implemented. They stated: "Today’s report has left us with some answers, but also a number of unanswered questions. We have always wanted to ensure that what happened to Dawn will not happen to others; that lessons should be learned; and that meaningful changes should be made."
Reckless Acts and Immediate Sanctions
The inquiry's 174-page report found that a GRU military intelligence squad, acting on instructions authorised at the highest level in Russia, smeared Novichok on Mr Skripal's door handle in Salisbury in March 2018. Lord Hughes described this as a "public demonstration of Russian power." The report stated that deploying the nerve agent in a busy city and subsequently leaving a perfume bottle containing it created a foreseeable risk to the public.
In direct response to the report's findings, the UK government announced a new wave of sanctions on Thursday 4 December 2025. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) sanctioned the GRU in its entirety, along with 11 individuals linked to state-sponsored hostile activity. These include eight cyber intelligence officers and three GRU officers involved in plots in Europe. Russia's ambassador was also summoned to the Foreign Office.
Calls for Accountability and Systemic Change
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the findings were "a grave reminder of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives." Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper added that "Putin and his GRU agents are an active threat to Britain’s citizens, our security and our prosperity."
Security Minister Dan Jarvis warned the Commons that the UK is facing an "increasingly reckless methodology" from Russian actors, who are turning to proxies and encrypted apps to conduct operations.
Wiltshire Police also faced criticism. Chief Constable Catherine Roper admitted the force had compounded the family's pain, apologising for wrongly describing Ms Sturgess as a known drug user and acknowledging shortcomings in the response to the second Novichok incident. The force has identified 21 areas for improvement.
Concluding their statement, Dawn Sturgess's family made a final, poignant plea: "The report today contains no recommendations. That is a matter of real concern. There should, there must, be reflection and real change."
