Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor home search warrants were unlawful, says High Court judge

A High Court judge has ruled that search warrants used by police to search properties linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were unlawful because the wrong legal procedure was followed. In simple terms, police must have the correct legal authority to search someone’s home, and in this case the warrants were issued using the wrong legal provisions.

However, the ruling does not mean Andrew has been cleared of wrongdoing, nor does it automatically bring the criminal investigation to an end. It is a decision about whether the searches were carried out lawfully, rather than a judgment on whether any offence was committed.

The key question now is whether police will be allowed to keep the documents and electronic devices seized during the searches, and whether the material can be used as evidence. The court’s decision could affect how the investigation proceeds, but the legal challenge alone does not mean the evidence must be discarded or returned.