Redknapp accuses police of 'unlawful' raid
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Your support makes all the difference.Police who raided the home of the Portsmouth manager, Harry Redknapp, as part of a corruption inquiry were yesterday accused by his lawyers of acting on the strength of an unlawful warrant – and tipping off the Press in advance.
The 6am search of Redknapp's house in Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset, last November was caught on camera by Sun photographers, as was his departure from Chichester police station after being bailed, Alun Jones QC told the High Court.
"It is our case that they [the media] had been deliberately informed about this by the police," Jones told Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Underhill in London.
In a judicial review hearing, Redknapp and his wife Sandra challenged a decision by City of London Court to issue the warrant, and its execution by City of London Police. Jones argued that, for legal reasons relating to the nature of the material being sought by the police, the court had had "no power" to issue the warrant.
He told the judges Redknapp was abroad at the time of the raid. When he arrived back in the UK later that day, he voluntarily attended Chichester police station where he was immediately arrested and detained for seven hours.
Redknapp held a press conference following his release on bail and spoke of his "bitter disappointment" at the way the raid and his arrest had been handled. He said he believed he had only been arrested because he was a "high-profile" figure.
A total of nine people are on bail in connection with the continuing police inquiry, which has involved searches at a number of football club premises, including Portsmouth.
Ups and downs
* CHAMPIONSHIP
West Brom need to match Stoke's result to be champions. Stoke need a point to be promoted. Hull only go up by winning if Stoke lose. Bristol City are in the play-offs. Sheffield United, Ipswich and Wolves retain hopes of joining them but Crystal Palace and Watford currently hold the places.
*LEAGUE ONE
Swansea go up as champions, Doncaster join them by beating Cheltenham, otherwise Nottingham Forest or Carlisle may come in. Port Vale and Luton are already down, Gillingham and Bournemouth require wins to threaten Cheltenham and Crewe.
*LEAGUE TWO
MK Dons champions, Peterborough and Hereford also go up. Mansfield and Wrexham are already relegated.
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