"During the stop, counter-terrorism officers seized Ansari's work phone, and downloaded and copied its contents, which included confidential and legally privileged client material, accumulated over 15 years of practice. The High Court ordered that a two-day judicial hearing will take place in May 2026, to decide on whether the police's detention, seizure and retention of the human rights lawyer's work mobile phone violated public law."
"Southey said the police's handling of Ansari's work mobile phone breached both domestic procedural and fundamental rights protections under the European Convention on Human Rights, and that the retention of 15 years of privileged data was disproportionate under the right to private and family life. In the modern world, Southey said that "ultimately, searching a mobile phone is more sensitive than searching a house", and as such, there should be a very high threshold for phone seizures."
Fahad Ansari, a solicitor who represented Hamas in a proscription challenge, was detained under Schedule 7 at Holyhead Port on 6 August 2025 after a family holiday in Ireland. Counter-terrorism officers seized his work mobile and copied its contents, including confidential and legally privileged client material spanning 15 years. A two-day High Court hearing will take place in May 2026 to determine whether the detention, seizure and retention violated public law. Ansari is bringing legal action against North Wales Police and the Home Office. Counsel argued the police relied on unlawful or irrelevant considerations, breached domestic and ECHR protections, and that retention was disproportionate.
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