Thames Valley Police Concedes Andrew Search Warrants Were Unlawful

Thames Valley Police has acknowledged that the search warrants used to enter the homes of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earlier this year were unlawful, the High Court was informed on Thursday.

The force conceded that the details presented to the Old Bailey regarding the warrants for searching the former Prince Andrew's Sandringham estate and the Royal Lodge in Windsor were inaccurate.

These warrants were issued prior to Andrew's arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has maintained his innocence, denying any wrongdoing. His legal team is challenging the validity of these warrants through a judicial review.

The court was told that Thames Valley Police seized documents and electronic devices during the searches. The conditions under which the warrants were granted stipulated that there must be reasonable grounds to believe that any business documents or those related to a paid or unpaid role involving an undertaking of confidence should not be seized. Thames Valley Police now admits that the judge who authorized the warrants could not have been certain of these conditions being met.