PCC Philip Wilkinson responds to Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report publication

Statement from Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson following the publication of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report:

"At the very heart of this awful incident is a grieving family: parents who lost their daughter and Dawn’s children who lost their mother in an unimaginable and public way.

“My thoughts remain firmly with Dawn Sturgess’s family today as they continue to live with the devastating impact of this unprecedented attack. It is my sincere hope the conclusion of the Inquiry and now the report publication provides them with some measure of answers and the closure they deserve, even after so many years.

"The events in Salisbury were an internationally significant and unprecedented act which propelled our county into the national and global spotlight. Wiltshire Police has fully cooperated throughout the Inquiry and I have been reassured by Chief Constable Catherine Roper that all organisational learning identified has been completed or rapidly progressed. The Chief Constable’s commitment to embedding these lessons gives me confidence that our policing approach remains robust and responsive.

"As Police and Crime Commissioner, my priority, alongside the Chief Constable, is to keep our communities safe. That commitment remains unwavering."

You can read the report in full here: Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report - GOV.UK

Published Thursday 4 December 2025