BBW -v- London Borough of Hackney (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-LON-001463

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

In the matter of an application for judicial review

12 May 2025

Before:

The Honourable Mr Justice Sheldon

Between:

The King
on the application of
BBW

-v-

London Borough of Hackney

Order

On an application by the Claimant for expedition and an inter partes hearing of her interim relief application

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER by the Honourable Mr Justice Sheldon

  1. The Claimant shall be referred to in these proceedings as BBW. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4), no person is to publish in connection with these proceedings the identity of the Claimant or any information likely to lead to her identification.
  2. The Defendant shall file and serve a response to the application for interim relief, and its Acknowledgment of Service, by 4pm on 15 May 2025;
  3. An interim relief hearing, and a hearing on permission to proceed with the judicial review application, shall be listed for 20 May 2025, for 2 hours, including the delivery of judgment. Case is suitable for a deputy High Court judge.
  4. By 4pm on 16 May 2025, the Claimant shall (if so advised) file and serve any further representations with respect to the interim relief application and any Reply to the Acknowledgment of Service. At the same time, the Claimant shall (if so advised) file and serve a skeleton argument for the hearing on 19 May 2025. The Claimant shall also file with the Court an agreed bundle of authorities by 4pm on 16 May 2025.
  5. The Defendant’s response (see paragraph 2 above) shall be treated as its skeleton argument for the purposes of the hearing on 19 May 2025.
  6. Costs in the case.
  7. Liberty to either party to apply to vary or set aside this order with 48 hours’ notice to the other party.

Reasons

  1. The Claimant is an asylum seeker from Iran. She is severely disabled and suffers from complex mental health issues. She has previously attempted suicide. These aspects of her private life call for anonymity in this case, as they outweigh the public interest in open justice. There is no particular reason why the Claimant’s identity should be made known to the public in connection with these proceedings.
  2. The Claimant has been accommodated by the Defendant, local authority, under the Care Act 2014. The Defendant was initially accommodated outside of its area, in Ilford. The Claimant was transferred to accommodation within the area of Camden (close to the Defendant’s area) in early January 2025. On 30 April 2025, the Claimant was informed that she would be transferred to accommodation in Ilford. The Claimant requested the Defendant to cancel or delay the move to Ilford. She wishes to remain in or near to the Defendant’s area, where it is said that she has a network of friends who provide her with support. This request was refused and is subject to the judicial review challenge.
  3. On 8 May 2025, the Claimant was evicted from her accommodation in Camden. Following an incident at the property, where it is said the Claimant threatened to kill herself, she was hospitalised. On discharge from hospital, the Claimant has been living with a friend pending the outcome of an application for interim relief. The friend’s property is a one-bedroom flat, with the Claimant sleeping on the sofa.
  4. There is clearly some urgency to this matter, as the arrangement with the Claimant’s friend is not suitable for more than a temporary period. As a result, I have ordered an abridgment of time for the Acknowledgment of Service and have directed an inter partes hearing for 19 May 2025, at which the Court will consider the application for interim relief and permission.
  5. There is liberty to apply, in case either of the parties consider the timetable unworkable.

Signed: Mr Justice Sheldon

12 May 2025