DBL -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-000745

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

11 March 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mr Justice Kimblin

Between:

THE KING on the application of
DBL

-v-

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Order

On an application by the Claimant for urgent consideration and interim relief

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant and the Defendant

ORDER by the Hon. Mr Justice Kimblin:

  1. Anonymity:
    (a) Under the Court’s inherent jurisdiction and pursuant to 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 DBL.
    (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 and serve a redacted copy of any statement of case already 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 and must then be served with the unredacted version;
    (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. Interim relief:
    (a) Interim relief is refused.
  3. Costs:
    (a) Costs in the case.

Reasons

For the same reasons as given by Brunner J. in her order in the Claimant’s case number AC-2025-LON-004104 I have also ordered anonymity and use of the same cypher.

Interim relief:

I have approved a consent order in AC-2025-LON-004104. It provides as follows:

“UPON the Defendant agreeing to reconsider the further submissions decision dated 15 October 2025 within three months of this consent order being sealed, absent special circumstances;

AND UPON the Defendant issuing a new decision finding that there are not currently reasonable grounds to conclude that the Claimant is a victim of modern slavery on 19 November 2025;

AND UPON the removal directions being cancelled further to the order of Mrs Justice Brunner staying the Claimant’s removal on 19 November 2025;

AND UPON the Defendant agreeing to reconsider the further submissions decision dated 15 October 2025 within three months of this consent order being sealed, absent special circumstances;

BY CONSENT, it is ordered that:-

  1. The Claimant do have leave to withdraw the above-numbered claim for judicial review.
  2. Paragraph 2 of the Order of Brunner HCJ dated 19 November 2025 prohibiting the Claimant’s removal is discharged.
    ….[costs]…”
    In her Acknowledgement of Service, dated 10th March 2026, the Defendant submits that the Claimant’s imminent release makes the application for interim relief academic. If the consent order had been approved earlier, this application would have been unnecessary and the Defendant would have released the Claimant. I am confident that will now occur and that there is nothing significant to be gained by making an order for interim relief. In the circumstances of this case, there is no serious issue to be tried and so there is no proper basis for interim relief and it is unnecessary to go further and consider the balance of convenience.
    I have not decided whether permission should be given to proceed with the substantive claim because the Claimant still has the opportunity to reply to the Acknowledgement of Service. When that has been received, the papers will be put before a judge on the normal timescales.