Fahad Ansari, an experienced solicitor who is well known for his practice in national security and human rights cases, has instructed Bhatt Murphy to issue judicial review proceedings against the Chief Constable of North Wales Police and the Secretary of State for the Home Department arising out his detention and the seizure and continued retention of his work mobile phone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Mr Ansari was detained on 6 August 2025 while returning from a family holiday with his wife and children.
Counter terrorism police seized Mr Ansari’s work phone – which they were aware contains predominantly sensitive and legally privileged client data – and have refused to undertake not to examine, sift, or share its contents pending the resolution of his claim.
During his detention, Mr Ansari was asked about his views on the proscription of Palestine Action, how often he visits the mosque and questions about his clients which infringed on legal privilege.
Schedule 7 allows border police to stop, question, search and detain individuals whether or not the officer has any reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is a terrorist.
This is the first time powers of this nature have been used in this way to target and access a solicitor’s confidential client data.
Megan Phillips and Erica San of Bhatt Murphy act for Fahad Ansari instructing Jude Bunting KC and Rabah Kherbane of Doughty Street Chambers and Drishti Suri of Blackstone Chambers.
