HAG -v- London Borough of Croydon (anonymity order)
Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order
Claim number: AC-2026-LON-000719
In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court
27 February 2026
BEFORE:
ALISON MORGAN KC
BETWEEN:
THE KING on the application of
HAG
-v-
LONDON BOROUGH OF CROYDON
Order
On an application by the Claimant for anonymity and expedited directions
Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant
ORDER BY ALISON MORGAN KC (sitting as a DEPUTY HIGH COURT JUDGE)
- 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 and that of her children 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 ‘HAG’. Her children are to be referred to as ‘HMY’ and ‘HAS’. .
(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. - Abridgement of time and expedition:
(a) The Defendant’s Acknowledgement of Service (CPR 54.8) must be filed and served by 4pm on 10 March 2026.
(b) Any Reply from the Claimant (CPR 54.8A) must be filed and served by 4pm on 17 March 2026.
(c) The papers are to be referred to a judge or deputy judge immediately within 7 days thereafter.
Reasons
Anonymity: The Claimant lives in Croydon with her two young children, aged 6 and 1. She shares a one-bedroom flat with her former partner. The Claimant states that her former partner has been verbally and physically abusive towards her in the past and that she does not feel safe in her home. She seeks an anonymity order in this claim in order to protect her safety and that of her children. Although the Defendant is yet to respond to this claim, in its letter of 22 September 2025 the Defendant accepted that part of the consideration of the Claimant’s position required an assessment of whether or not she fell within the expanded definition for ‘domestic abuse’ within the Homelessness Code of Guidance. The determination of this application in favour of the Claimant is based on her concerns as presented in her claim. It should not be treated as any form of decision as to the merits of the substantive claim and whether the Defendant should have accepted that the Claimant was a victim of domestic abuse for the purposes of its determinations. On the basis of the information available, there is evidence of a serious risk to the Claimant and her children if the nature of this claim and any future housing arrangements were to be made public. There are accordingly compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the principle of open justice set out above.
(2) Abridgement of time/expedition: In its letter dated 22 September 2025, the Defendant has accepted that it must review its approach towards the Claimant’s housing needs. The Claimant lives in accommodation with her former partner and her two young children in circumstances that present a risk to their safety and health. This is concerning and needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency. The directions set out above seek to achieve expedition in the resolution of this matter.