GBD -v- Hampshire County Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-000303

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

22 January 2026

Before:

THE HON. MR JUSTICE CHAMBERLAIN

Between:

THE KING on the application of
GBD

-v-

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

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/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 GBD.
    (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) must be filed and served by 4pm on 5 February 2026.
    (b) Any Reply from the Claimant (CPR 54.8A) must be filed and served by 4pm on 12 February 2026.
    (c) The papers are to be referred to a judge or deputy judge as soon as possible thereafter for a decision on (i) permission to apply for judicial review and (ii) interim relief.

Reasons

(1) The Claimant says that he is a child and has sought asylum. The claim challenges an age assessment decision, which is based on sensitive personal information. There is also a risk that, if the Claimant’s identity were known, he would be at risk on return to Sudan.
(2) A modest abridgement of time is appropriate because, if the Claimant succeeds, he is entitled to support under the Children Act 1989 for the time being and because the Defendant has known about the circumstances of this case for some time.