CHM and others -v- Bexley London Borough Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2025-LON-002911

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

2 September 2025

Before:

The Honourable Mr Justice Linden

Between:

The King
on the application of
(1) CHM
(2) CLD
(3) CNM
(by their mother and litigation friend CPW)

-v-

Bexley London Borough Council

Order

On an application by the Claimants for interim relief dated 1 September 2025 (“the Application”)

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimants

ORDER by the Honourable Mr Justice Linden

  1. By 2pm on Wednesday 3 September 2025, the Defendant will file and serve its response to the Application together with any evidence on which it relies.
  2. The Application will be listed for an on notice hearing on Thursday 4 September 2025 if reasonably practicable, and in any event by the end of the week, with a time estimate of one hour.
  3. Pending the outcome of the Application, the Defendant will fund the Claimants’ and their mother’s present temporary accommodation at the Premier Inn in Sidcup or secure alternative accommodation for them and provide them with appropriate subsistence so that they are not destitute.
  4. Pending further order, upon it appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimants is necessary in order to protect their interests, pursuant to rule 39.2(4) of the Civil Procedure Rules and section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and rules 5.4C of the Civil Procedure Rules:
    a) The Claimants shall be referred to in these proceedings as CHM, CLD and CNM and their litigation friend as CPW (“the ciphers”).
    b) The Claimants’ name and those of their litigation friends are to be withheld from the public and must not to be disclosed in any proceedings in open court.
    c) There is to be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to the Claimants and their litigation friend by name, and whether orally or in writing, references to the ciphers.
    d) Pursuant to s.11 Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimants or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimants in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.
    e) Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):
    i. The parties must, when filing any statement of case, also file a redacted copy of that statement of case omitting the names, address and any other information which could lead to the identification of the Claimants.
    ii. Unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4(C)(6), no non-party may obtain an unredacted copy of any statement of case.
    f) Any person wishing to apply to vary or discharge this part of the order must make an Application to the Court, served on each party.
  5. Liberty to apply.

Reasons

  1. On the face of it the Claimants’ case and their Application are compelling although the Defendant has not yet been able to provide a response to them other than in the correspondence which is in the Bundle.
  2. I am hesitant about making a mandatory order without hearing from the Defendant, particularly as it appears to consider that it has evidence that the Claimants’ mother is not telling the truth about the means which are at their disposal. But bearing in mind that the Claimants are children I have decided that the order set out above is just and convenient. This will enable the Defendant to identify and produce the evidence on which it relies and for the matter to be determined by the Court, if necessary, in short order.
  3. I would encourage the parties to explore whether they are able to reach agreement bearing in mind the interests of the child Claimants. If it would help for the hearing to be put back on terms which are agreed, so that the parties have more time to see whether they can resolve matters, no doubt the court will be willing to attempt to accommodate this.

Signed:

Mr Justice Linden
2 September 2025