CKL -v- Hampshire County Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case numberAC-2025-LON-003283

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

15 October 2025

Before:

Richard Kimblin KC,
(sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge)

Between:

CKL

-v-

Hampshire County Council

Order

On an application by the Claimant for anonymity and directions

Following consideration of the Order of Morris J., the submissions and draft order lodged on behalf of the Claimant on 7th October 2025

ORDER BY RICHARD KIMBLIN KC
(SITTING AS A DEPUTY HIGH COURT JUDGE)

  1. Anonymity:

(a) Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) and the Court’s inherent jurisdiction

(i) the Claimant’s name is to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and

(ii) the Claimant is to be referred to orally and in writing as CKL.

(b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimant or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.

(c) Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):

(i) the parties must within 7 days file a redacted copy of any statement of case filed, omitting the name, address and any other information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant;

(ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time;

(iii) unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4C(6), no non-party many obtain a copy of any unredacted statement of case.

(d) Any person wishing to vary or discharge this Order must make an application, served on each party.

  1. Litigation Friend

(a) By 21st October 2025 at 4pm, the Claimant shall file and serve a certificate of suitability (N235) confirming appointment of a suitable litigation friend.

  1. Expedition/Interim Relief
    (a) The application for expedition is refused save that the papers shall be placed before a judge not later than 4th November 2025.
    (b) No order as to interim relief.
  1. Liberty to Apply: the parties have liberty to apply on 48 hours notice to the other party.
  2. Costs: Costs reserved.

REASONS

  1. Anonymity: The principle of open justice is the starting point and deviation from that requires clear and cogent reasons.
  2. In this case I am willing to grant the order sought for the following reasons.
  3. The Claimant’s case is that he is a child. It is also his case that he has suffered particular traumas both at home in Somalia, en route the UK and while accommodated as an asylum seeker. He has provided a substantial witness statement to set out the detail of those matters.
  4. There are accordingly compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the principle of open justice in paragraph 1 and I have made an appropriate order for those reasons which are exceptional and sufficient to warrant that order.
  5. Expedition: The Defendant’s AoS and Summary Grounds of Defence are due on 22nd October 2025, i.e. seven days from the date of this order. The Claimant’s draft order seeks abridgement of time for service of the AoS to 14 days, but that would now be an extension of time. Given the course of this case to date and the lack of clarity in respect of a litigation friend, I have concluded that it is most appropriate to leave the normal timescales in place.
  6. Interim Relief: In advance of any response from the Defendant, it is premature to make any order for interim relief. I have made no order. It will be a matter for the judge who decides permission to also decide whether it is appropriate to grant interim relief.
  7. The costs of this application have been brought about by the need to resolve the ability of the Claimant to bring these proceedings and as to a future litigation friend. While it is not the normal course for dealing with the costs of an application, the costs of an associated with this particular application are best determined at the conclusion of these proceedings.

Signed: Richard Kimblin KC

Date: 15th October 2025