Asim Khalid -v- The Chief Constable of Manchester Police (anonymity and special measures order)

County CourtAnonymity Order

Claim number: K46YX000

In the County Court at Manchester

7 August 2026

Before:

His Honour Judge Ranson

Between:

Asim Khalid
(Claimant)

-v-

The Chief Constable of Manchester Police
(Defendant)

Anonymity and special measures order

BEFORE His Honour Judge Ranson sitting at the County Court at Manchester on 7th August 2026

UPON HEARING Counsel for the Defendant and Counsel for the Claimant

AND UPON
(1) The Court considering the Defendant’s application dated 21 July 2026 and the witness statement of Officer X1 dated 26 November 2025.
(2) The Defendant intends to rely on the evidence of Officer X1 as a witness at the trial of the claim.
(3) Consideration of the Article 2 (right to life) and Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) rights of Officer X1.
(4) It appearing that the non-disclosure of the identity of Officer X1 is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of Officer X1 and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.
(5) The Claimant indicating his neutrality to the making of the order and there being no representations from the press or any other interested party.

AND PURSUANT to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and CPR rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4)

WHEREAS for the purposes of this order:
(1) ‘Publication’ includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public.

(2) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (1) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The identity of Officer X1 is confidential and shall not be published.
  2. Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the name or address of Officer X1 or any details or a specific combination of facts that could lead to the identification of Officer X1.
  3. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
    (i) Officer X1 shall be referred to as “Officer X1”.
    (ii) Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of Officer X1 shall be redacted before publication.
  4. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    (i) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 3(i) to (ii) above.
    (ii) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the Defendant’s solicitor.
  5. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 7th August 2026 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
  6. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on 7 days’ notice to the Defendant’s solicitor.
  7. Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 2019 a copy of this Order shall be published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (www.judiciary.uk). For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk.
  8. Permission is given to the Defendant to use the designation “Officer X1” in place of the witness’s full name in any witness statement served in these proceedings and in any copy of such statement included in the trial bundle.
  9. The Defendant’s solicitor shall by 4.00 pm on 28th August 2026 file copies of the versions of Officer X1’s witness statements which contain his full name. The statement shall be filed in a sealed envelope that is clearly marked “Statement of Officer X1 “. NOT TO BE OPENED WITHOUT THE LEAVE OF THE COURT”

AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT

  1. At trial Officer X1 shall be referred to as “Officer X1” and shall:
    (i) Have secure access to and from the Court Building and the Court in a manner that protects their anonymity.
    (ii) Give evidence from behind a screen so that they are not visible other than to the Judge and Counsel.
  2. The Defendant’s solicitor shall liaise with the Court at least 14 days before the trial in order to make the necessary arrangements in relation to paragraph 9 above.
  3. Costs in the case.