A RAID by counter-terrorism police on the home of journalist Asa Winstanley has been ruled unlawful, in what has been described as a "decisive victory for press freedom."

Police raided the north London home of the pro-Palestine journalist last October. 

The journalist, who writes for the Electronic Intifada and publishes a Substack called Palestine is Still the Issue, was neither arrested nor charged with an offence.

Yet officers seized electronic devices, including computers and phones, and applied to access Mr Winstanley’s devices, documents, and contacts.

Senior judge Mark Lucraft KC, sitting at the Old Bailey, rejected the request, adding: “I am very troubled by the way in which the search warrant was drafted, approved and granted where items were to be seized from a journalist.”

Mr Winstanley’s legal team was led by Bindmans Lawyers and supported by the NUJ.

NUJ general secretary Laura Davison said: “The seizure of our member’s property was a brazen attempt to intimidate journalists working in the public interest. 

“Abusing counter-terror legislation to stifle press freedom undermines public trust in the police, journalists’ safety, and democracy. 

“Just weeks ago the UK prime minister stood up in parliament and spoke about the importance of a free press and independent journalism.

“We urge the government to make good on their words and prevent the targeting of journalists, like Asa Winstanley, through raids and detentions.”

Mr Winstanley said: “This ruling is a decisive victory for press freedom in the UK.

“My hope is that this marks the beginning of the end to the police’s systematic misuse of counter-terror powers against journalists who report on Palestine.

“My legal team were able to block the police from accessing my notes, contacts, emails, documents and all other journalistic material on my devices.

“The police must now drop their criminal investigation into my social media posts. Reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza is not a crime.”

Solicitor Tayab Ali said: “The actions of the police, raiding a journalist’s home under the guise of counter-terrorism, were not only unlawful but a grave threat to the democratic principle that journalists must be able to work without fear of state harassment.

“The court recognised that the warrants were unlawfully obtained, the police conduct was unjustified, and their attempt to retrospectively legitimise the raid failed. 

“This case was not about national security, it was about silencing a journalist who had made comments on the situation in Gaza.”