23/05/2008

Football Corruption Raid 'Unlawful', High Court Rules

The High Court has ruled that a police raid on a football manager's home was "unlawful".

Harry Redknapp and his wife have been awarded £1,000 damages for the incident, which will be paid by the City of London Police.

The police have also been ordered to pay 25% of the couple's legal costs.

The operation was carried out last November as part of an ongoing inquiry into football corruption claims.

The Portsmouth Football Club boss and his wife Sandra began legal proceedings after the incident at their home in Sandbanks, Dorset.

Presiding over the case, Lord Justice Latham said that the way in which police had applied for the search warrant was "wholly unacceptable".

Mark Spragg, representing the couple said that "it was an outrageous abuse of power by police who ignored the rule of the book and executed an unlawful search warrant at 6am in the full glare of the media".

The High Court had heard that Mr Redknapp had been abroad at the time of the dawn raid but his wife had been at home.

When the football boss arrived back in the UK he voluntarily attended Chichester police station, where he was arrested and subsequently bailed.

Nine people are on bail in connection with alleged football corruption claims.

Mr Redknapp's son Jamie, is a former footballer for Liverpool, he is also uncle to Chelsea player Frank Lampard.

(DS)




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