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

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-000293

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

23 January 2026

Before:
The Honourable Mr Justice Sheldon

Between:

THE KING on the application of
GIP

-v-

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

Order

On an application by the Claimant for anonymity and expedition

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER by the Honourable Mr Justice Sheldon

1. An order for anonymity is made:
(a) Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) and/or the Court’s inherent jurisdiction:
i. the name of the Claimant is to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public, or to any person who is not a party to these proceedings; and
ii. the Claimant is to be referred to as “GIP”.
(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 his identification in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.
(c) Pursuant to Rule 5.4C of the Civil Procedure Rules, a person who is not a party to the proceedings may obtain a copy of a statement of case or any other document filed with the Court from the court records only if they have been completely anonymised and all references which are capable of leading to the identification of the Claimant have been deleted or otherwise redacted from those documents.
(d) Any non-party wishing to obtain or inspect documents in the case must do so by making an application to the Court, to be served on both parties, on 48 hours’ notice.

2. The Defendant and any non-party may apply to the Court on 72 hours’ notice to vary or discharge the Anonymity order at paragraph 1 above.

3. The Defendant shall file and serve her Acknowledgment of Service within 14 days of service of the claim for judicial review.

4. The Claimant shall, if so advised, file a Reply thereto within 5 working days of the service of the Acknowledgment of Service.

5. On receipt of the Reply, the papers shall be put before a judge of the Administrative Court as soon as practicable for the consideration of the application for permission.

6. The Defendant has liberty to apply on 48 hours’ notice to vary or discharge the order at paragraphs 3 and 5 above.

7. Costs in the case

    Reasons

    1. The Claimant is an asylum-seeker from Sudan. He arrived in the United Kingdom by boat on 24 August 2025. A negative reasonable grounds decision was made on his trafficking claim. The Claimant was removed to France pursuant to the UK-France Treaty on 27 November 2025. It is said that the Claimant is currently destitute and sleeping rough in “the Jungle” in Calais. It is said that he has not sought support from the French authorities because, rather than examining his asylum claim, they may remove him to Italy, and there is a concern that he would then be returned to Sudan.
    2. The Claimant seeks anonymity. I grant anonymity as he raises issues relating to his mental health which may fall within Article 8 of the Convention. Whilst anonymity amounts to a derogation from the open justice principle, there is no particular reason why the Claimant’s identity should be made public. If and insofar as the Defendant or any non-party wishes for this matter to be revisited, they have liberty to apply.
    3. The Claimant seeks expedition of his claim for judicial review. There is some basis for this request: the Claimant says that he is destitute and is concerned that he may be removed to Italy, which would mean that he will not benefit from the return provisions under the UK-France Treaty if his application for judicial review is successful; there is also the possibility of a removal to Sudan. Whilst the claim is lodged some time after the Claimant’s removal to France, it appears that there have been difficulties in obtaining legal aid.
    4. I am prepared to grant expedition: an abridgment of time for the service of the Acknowledgment of Service, and for the papers to be passed to a judge for consideration of the application for permission as soon as practicable thereafter. As this order is being made without hearing from the Defendant, the Defendant has liberty to apply to vary or discharge the order for expedition.