{
  "id": 12883926,
  "title": "Police accept Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor search warrants were unlawful, court hears",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/police-accept-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-search-warrants-were",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T14:07:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr1exlvpzylvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Thames Valley Police has admitted that the search warrants used to search Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's homes earlier this year were unlawful, according to the High Court. The force accepted that the initial court's decision to issue the warrants under the specific legislation used was incorrect when they were given permission to search the former prince's properties on February 19. Andrew, who is suspected of misconduct in public office, denies any wrongdoing. The warrants were issued before his arrest, and his lawyers are challenging their lawfulness through a judicial review. Thames Valley Police took possession of documents and electronic devices during the raids, and now admits that the judge who granted the warrants could not have been sure of the reasonable grounds for believing that any documents used for business or in a paid or unpaid role in which an undertaking of confidence had been given should not be seized. The police spokesperson stated that the agreement leading to the quashing of the warrants does not constitute a judgment on the ongoing investigation and that they ensured the court was presented with all necessary information and paperwork to inform their decision. The investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by a man in his 60s from Norfolk remains ongoing.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Search warrants for Andrew's properties unlawful - court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/search-warrants-for-andrews-properties-unlawful-court",
        "published": "2026-10-08T13:45:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Breaking: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wins court battle to have police search warrants quashed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/breaking-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-wins-court-battle-to-have-police",
        "published": "2026-10-08T13:46:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Ex-Prince Andrew Search Warrants Were Unlawful, Police Admit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/ex-prince-andrew-search-warrants-were-unlawful-police-admit",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:01:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Search warrants for former prince Andrew's homes were unlawful, UK court rules",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/search-warrants-for-former-prince-andrews-homes-were-unlawful-uk",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:09:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Police used unlawful warrants in former Prince Andrew property seizure, U.K. judge says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/police-used-unlawful-warrants-in-former-prince-andrew-property",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:18:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Ex-prince Andrew search warrants quashed after UK police accept legal error",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/ex-prince-andrew-search-warrants-quashed-after-uk-police-accept-legal",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:39:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "UK police agree searches for ex-prince Andrew’s homes ‘unlawful’: Judge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/uk-police-agree-searches-for-ex-prince-andrews-homes-unlawful-judge",
        "published": "2026-10-08T15:02:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "UK police accept ex-prince Andrew search warrants must be ‘legally quashed’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/uk-police-accept-ex-prince-andrew-search-warrants-must-be-legally",
        "published": "2026-10-08T15:20:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "UK ex-prince Andrew search warrants quashed after police accept legal error",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/uk-ex-prince-andrew-search-warrants-quashed-after-police-accept-legal",
        "published": "2026-10-08T15:53:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "British police admit they bungled search warrant in legal win for former prince Andrew",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/british-police-admit-they-bungled-search-warrant-in-legal-win-for",
        "published": "2026-10-08T16:21:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}