Last week’s ruling quashing the search warrants executed on 19th February 2026 at the homes of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Sandringham and Royal Lodge in the context of the investigation into alleged offences of misconduct in public office was a major embarrassment for Thames Valley Police. The police accepted that the warrants had been unlawfully issued but who was to blame for the fact that the wrong section of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 was relied on? Thames Valley police claim that “the court was presented with all the necessary information and paperwork”, giving the impression that the error lay with the Judge who issued the warrants at the Old Bailey but the public reasons given by Mr Justice Hilliard (who was not the issuing Judge) did not seek to allocate blame. And despite the admitted illegality, does the law permit the police to retain the seized material if it is relevant to their continuing investigation?
To discuss this sorry saga, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined on Double Jeopardy for expert legal commentary by regular guest, former BBC home affairs journalist and crime/policing expert, Danny Shaw.
The trio go on to discuss what, if any, progress is being made to advance Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s bold plans for radical reform of policing as announced last January. With a review by former Met Police Commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe due to be published in the next few weeks, is there really a prospect of cutting the current model of 43 separate police forces in England and Wales down to 12-15 mega-force areas? And what about the creation of an FBI-style nationwide police force combining the National Crime Agency, Counter-Terrorism policing and regional organised crime squads under the leadership of a single national Police Commissioner?
Ken and Tim then press Danny (an adviser to the then Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in the lead up to the 2024 election) on how Labour’s crime and policing manifesto commitments are shaping up as we approach the halfway stage of the current term of office.
Finally, as lifelong Arsenal supporters, Ken, Tim and Danny reflect on the damage done to the reputation of the Premier League by the findings of guilt against Manchester City on 115 charges with the legal battle destined to last for many more months, if not years.
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Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future.
What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.
Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.
Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003 2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.
Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.
If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today i Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.
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