Thames Valley Police accepted its warrants to search Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s homes were unlawful. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Thames Valley Police has accepted that the search warrants it used to search Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s homes earlier this year were unlawful, the High Court in London heard Thursday.
The force conceded that information given to the Old Bailey judge who granted the warrants for his Sandringham home and Royal Lodge in Windsor was incorrect. It also accepts the judge could not have been sure a condition tied to material held under an undertaking of confidence was met.
Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was released under investigation. He denies wrongdoing. The warrants were issued before his arrest, and his lawyers are challenging their lawfulness through a judicial review of the actions of the force’s chief constable and the Central Criminal Court.
The court heard that officers took documents and electronic devices from the properties. The arrest followed the release by the U.S. Department of Justice of documents suggesting he passed confidential information to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a U.K. trade envoy in 2010. He has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Police said earlier this week that their misconduct investigation continues.
This report is based on information from the BBC, Al Jazeera and The Associated Press.