ELP -v- Secretary of State for Defence (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2025-LON-004221

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

2 December 2025

Before:

The Hon Mr Justice Chamberlain

Between:

The King on the application of
ELP

-v-

Secretary of State for Defence

Order

On an application by the Claimant for urgent consideration and directions Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER BY THE HON. MR JUSTICE CHAMBERLAIN

  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 “ELP”.
    (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 Claimant 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. Expedition: The papers are to be referred to a High Court Judge as soon as possible after the earliest of the dates on which: (i) the Claimant files a Reply, (ii) the Claimant indicates that he does not intend to file a Reply or (iii) the time filing a reply expires in accordance with CPR 54.8A.
  3. Costs: Costs reserved.

Reasons

The Claimant says that his life is at risk. However, the claim was filed on the penultimate day of the 3-month period following the challenged decision. In any event, the Defendant has now indicated that it will respond to the claim rather than to the letter before claim. So, the above directions will result in consideration of the papers at least as soon as the directions originally sought by the Claimant