Thames Valley Police accepted that warrants used to search Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's homes were issued under the wrong law and must be quashed, while the investigation continues.
Thames Valley Police accepted on Thursday that search warrants used at homes linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were unlawful and must be quashed, Reuters reported. The force said the court had issued the warrants under the wrong section of the law.
At the High Court, Mr Justice Hilliard said Mountbatten-Windsor and the police agreed the warrants were unlawful. He said quashing them does not end the investigation or make the whole inquiry unlawful. BBC reported that items seized in the February searches remain with police, with a further hearing expected in 2027 on whether the material can be used.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in a case linked to Jeffrey Epstein, Reuters reported. He denies wrongdoing. The police are applying to keep the seized property; he opposes that. A force spokesperson said material not connected to the investigation had been returned, and other material had not.
The legal point is the form of the warrant, not a finding on the underlying allegation. BBC said a later challenge established that section 9 warrants, not only section 8, were required.
The next listed step is the 2027 hearing on retention of the material. No trial date was announced in these reports.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Thames Valley Police said the initial decision to issue the warrants under the law used was incorrect.
- Mr Justice Hilliard said quashing the warrants does not end the investigation.