Shamed Andrew ‘accuses police officers of taking personal items during raids on his home’ in High Court police battle

ANDREW Mountbatten-Windsor has reportedly accused officers of seizing personal items during raids on his home earlier this year. The ex-Duke of York, 66, was detained by Thames Valley Police in February amid a storm of publicity as the Epstein files dominated headlines. Disgraced Andrew has already launched legal action against cops after they raided royal homes and arrested him on his 66th birthday. Now, the former Duke of York’s legal team has allegedly accused Thames Valley Police detectives of removing private, confidential items that hold no relevance to their ongoing criminal investigation, according to the Telegraph. Andrew then lodged a judicial review in connection with the search warrants that enabled cops to raid his home on the Sandringham Estate based on this alleged information, the outlet reported. The eighth in line to the throne was arrested on the morning of his 66th birthday. Most read in The Sun The disgraced ex-duke faces allegations of passing market-sensitive information to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, while serving as the UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. Those allegations sparked a major misconduct in public office probe following the publication of the Epstein Files. In February, detectives spent several days searching properties linked to the royal in Windsor and Norfolk, hauling away a large amount of material. Following the raids, he was questioned for 12 hours at Aylsham police station before being released under investigation, and he has not been interviewed since. Most read in Royals Mountbatten-Windsor has strongly denied any wrongdoing. But his lawyers are now contesting both the conduct of the officers during the property searches and the fundamental lawfulness of the original warrant, which was granted by an Old Bailey judge. And an imminent ruling could potentially force Thames Valley Police to return every piece of seized material if the court finds in the royal’s favour, according to the Telegraph. A source has claimed that the outcome of the judicial review would be key in determining the future of the case against the disgraced royal, reports the outlet. Police procedure during high-profile property searches has remained a deeply sensitive issue and a subject of intense public scrutiny following the catastrophic failings of Scotland Yard’s Operation Midland. Despite the judicial review being granted earlier this year, Thames Valley Police has applied to keep the details of the royal’s legal claim strictly confidential. A judge at the Old Bailey issued the warrants, which also allowed searches of his former 33-room residence Royal Lodge in Windsor. It is thought to be the first time a Royal Family member has challenged criminal proceedings against them since the trial of Charles I in 1649. Mr Justice Hilliard will oversee a private High Court hearing on Thursday to consider the force’s request to restrict access to court documents. If the judge leans towards secrecy, media representatives will still be given the chance to argue for transparency before any final decision is locked in. But it has been made clear to the shamed former Duke of York that none of this money should be spent on the case brought against the police. Palace sources also say Andrew’s legal defence is a matter for him and his lawyers and they have no role in determining its strategy or actions. A Buckingham Palace source said that King Charles had no involvement in the judicial review application. They added that it had been “made clear” to the former prince that the financial provision he receives from his elder brother should not be used to fund the High Court claim. The former prince’s arrest came in the wake of the publication of documents from the Epstein files. Mountbatten-Windsor is being investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public office. It is alleged he may have shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein while he was the UK’s trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. He also allegedly sent the convicted sex offender a confidential briefing note on investment opportunities in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.