CNF -v- Warwickshire County Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2025-BHM-000240

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

14 August 2025

Before:

HHJ Worster

Between:

The King on the application of
CNF

-v-

Warwickshire County Council

Order

On an application by the Claimant

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER BY HHJ WORSTER

  1. Anonymity:
    (a) Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) and/or the Court’s inherent jurisdiction and/or s. 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998:
    (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 CNF.
    (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.
  2. Abridgement of time and expedition:
    (a) The Defendant’s Acknowledgement of Service (CPR 54.8) is to be filed and served on the due date as calculated by the rules.
    (b) The papers are to be referred to a judge or deputy judge within 7 days thereafter, and the Claimant’s application for interim relief will be considered with the issue of permission.
  3. The Claimant has permission to conduct these proceedings without a litigation friend.

Reasons

(1) Anonymity: The Claimant’s case is that he was born on 11.9.08. Paragraph 1 of his witness statement in support says that he is 15 years old. If he was born on 11.9.08 he would not be 16 (17 this September). But whichever it is, his case is that he is a child. Whilst the Defendant’s case is that he is over 18, an anonymity order is to be made until further order.
(2) Abridgement of time/expedition: The decision challenged was made on 21 May 2025 (it appears that an earlier assessment was not challenged) and there has been some delay in bringing this claim. The Claimant’s evidence is that he is living with older men, cannot connect with them, that this exacerbates his feelings of loneliness and the like, and that he receives no support or education. No complaint is made as to the accommodation as such. There is a degree of urgency, but it is not sufficient to justify an abridgment of time for the preparation of the AS. It is important that there is a proper opportunity for both sides of the argument to be put. But I will direct that the matter be dealt with quickly once the Defendant has had an opportunity to respond to the claim.