DE -v- London Borough of Hounslow (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2024-LON-003688

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

10 April 2025

Before:

The Hon Mr Justice Bennathan

Between:

The King on the application of
DE

-v-

London Borough of Hounslow

Order

Notification of the Judge’s Decision (CPR 54.11, 54.12)

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant, the Defendant’s Summary Grounds of Defence and the Claimant’s Reply

ORDER BY THE HON. Mr JUSTICE BENNATHAN

  1. Permission: Permission to apply for judicial review is refused.
  2. No order as to costs save legal aid taxation if required.
  3. The Claimant’s application for anonymity is granted and he will be referred to as “DE” in these proceedings.

Reasons

  1. I have granted the order for anonymity on the grounds set out by the Claimant, the Defendant having no observations on that topic.
  2. I have refused permission for judicial review: this was a careful assessment carried out by two experienced and qualified social workers over 4 sessions.
  3. There is nothing in the process they followed that is open to reasonable criticism as they directed themselves properly on the various notes of caution [such as about physical appearance, the limitations of the use of inconsistencies on one matter being used to determine age, and the possibility of trauma generating what may be mistaken for a lack of credibility], and justified their conclusion.
  4. The facilities put in place for the various meetings were, very properly, designed to set the Claimant at ease as far as possible and to allow him to give a good account of himself.
  5. I have read the letter by Dr Argyriou dated 10 December 2024: I do not doubt the good intentions or integrity of the doctor by the letter simply lacks the weight, care and full process carried out by the Defendant in their age assessment.

Requests to reconsider permission at a hearing pursuant to CPR 54.12

Where the Claimant wishes to request reconsideration of the refusal of permission at a hearing:
(a) The request must be made by completing and filing Form 86B within 7 days after the date of service of this Order.
(b) A fee is payable on filing Form 86B. Details of the current fees are at
https://www.gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are. The form to make an application for remission of a court fee can be obtained at https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees.
(c) If the Claimant does not pay the fee or submit a certified application for fee remission, paragraph 1 of this Order is final.