CNO -v- The London Borough of Brent (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-LON-002989

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

8 September 2025

Before:

The Hon. Mrs Justice Thornton

Between:

The King
on the application of
CNO

-v-

The London Borough of Brent

Order

On an application by the Claimant for interim relief

UPON consideration of the Claimant’s application for urgent interim relief and supporting documentation.

ORDER by the Hon. Mrs Justice Thornton:

  1. The Defendant to file and serve an acknowledgment of service within 21 days of service of the claim form in accordance with CPR54.8(2)(a).
  2. The Claimant’s application for interim relief to be put before a judge for further consideration alongside consideration of permission to apply for judicial review following the deadline for the acknowledgement of service.
  3. The Claimant’s name and the name of his son is to be withheld from the public and must not to be disclosed in any proceedings in open Court.
  4. There is to be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to the claimant by name, and whether orally or in writing, references to the cipher CWS (for the child) and CNO (his father, the Claimant).
  5. Any person wishing to apply to vary or discharge this Order must make an Application to the Court, served on each party.
  6. Costs in the case.

REASONS

  1. The Claimant is the father of CSW aged 12 years. He seeks to challenge decisions of the Defendant to a) convene and proceed with a child protection conference on 24 July 2025, b) conclude that the threshold under section 47 of the Children Act is met on grounds of alleged emotional abuse 3) maintain the section 47 process and d) failing to covert the process into a section 17 children in need pathway.
  2. By application dated 1 September 2025 C seeks interim relief as follows; a) suspending the effect of the section 47 decision and child protection plan 2) the provision of support under section 17 Children Act 3) an order requiring the Defendant to commence an EHCP needs assessment and make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act and disclose the full ICPC record 4) an injunction preventing the local authority from commencing care proceedings or public law proceedings pending determination of the lawfulness of the section 47 outcome.
  3. The interim relief sought is extensive. The Defendant explains in its pre-action response that the child protection conference was convened in July following multi- agency concerns about the emotional well-being, school attendance and behavioural presentation of CSW, including concerns expressed by police. It is further said that Section 47 of the Act requires a local authority to investigate where there is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. The Defendant also indicates that the Claimant has not provided a full copy of the autism assessment he relies upon.
  4. The claim raises safeguarding issues. The Claimant seeks to downgrade protection currently in place for GWS but may not have disclosed a key document for his case (a full copy of the autism assessment). It is not clear to the Court that the Claimant has a strong prima facie claim (Administrative Court Guide paragraph 16.6.1). Given the safeguarding issues and the vulnerability of GWS it is appropriate for the Court to hear from the local authority via the acknowledgement of service which must be served within 21 days of service of the claim form. The matter can then be referred to a judge for further consideration along with the decision on permission to apply for judicial review.
  5. It is appropriate to protect the interests of the 12-year-old child who is the subject of these proceedings by anonymising his name and that of his father (so as to prevent jigsaw identification).

Signed: Mrs Justice Thornton
Dated: 8th September 2025