Portsmouth Boss Launches Action Over 'Unlawful' Raid

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has launched a High Court action today over his arrest as part of a corruption inquiry, saying the raid was "unlawful".

Mr Redknapp and his wife Sandra lodged the action at the Administrative Court of the High Courts of Justice in London, following his arrest last November by police investigating football corruption. They want a judicial review into the dawn raid at their home in Sandbanks, Poole in Dorset last November.

Lawyers for the Premiership club told the court today that the press had been tipped off in advance. The 6am raid of Redknapp's house, and his subsequent departure from Chichester police station after being bailed, were both captured on camera from Sun newspaper photographers, Alun Jones QC told Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Underhill in London.

"It is our case that they [the media] had been deliberately informed about this by the police," he said.

Mr Jones went on to argue that, for legal reasons relating to the nature of the material being sought the court had "no power" to issue the warrant.

Mr Redknapp was abroad at the time of the raid. He voluntarily attended Chichester police station, where he was questioned and detained for seven hours.

Nine people in total were arrested in relation to the ongoing police inquiry, most recently Birmingham City's co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady last month.

See: Pompey Manager Launches Legal Action Against Police

(JM)