KNO and KNU -v- London Borough of Harrow (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2026-LON-002322

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

19 May 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mrs Justice Ellenbogen DBE

Between:

The King
on the application of
(1) KNO
(2) KNU
(Claimants)

-v-

London Borough of Harrow
(Defendant)

and

Shaftesbury High School
(Interested Party)

Order

On an application by the Claimants for urgent interim relief, dated 17 May 2026 and for an order granting anonymity

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimants

ORDER by The Hon. Mrs Justice Ellenbogen DBE

  1. The identity of the Claimants in these proceedings shall not be published.
  2. Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation to these proceedings, the name or address of the Claimants or any of their children, or any other matters which could lead to their identification.
  3. In any report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation to these proceedings, the Claimants shall be referred to as “KNO” and “KNU”, and any matters which could lead to the identification of the Claimants or any of their children shall be redacted.
  4. Pursuant to CPR Rule 5.4C:
    (a) a person who is not a party to the proceedings may obtain a copy of a claim form, judgment or order from the court records only if the same has been anonymised and redacted in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Order;
    (b) if a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies for permission to obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ written notice to the Claimants;
    (c) any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or revoke paragraphs 1 to 4(b) of this Order, provided that any such application is made on written notice to the Claimants and that 5 days’ prior written notice of the intention to make such an application is given.
  5. This Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales pursuant to CPR r.39.2(5)
  6. The application for urgent interim relief is refused.
  7. Costs reserved.

REASONS

  1. This application is before me as ‘immediates’ judge.
  2. By their claim for judicial review, the Claimants seek to challenge the Defendant’s determinations, of 12 and 13 May 2026, concerning their housing banding and bedroom category requirements, contending that the Defendant’s decisions had inadequate regard to (amongst other matters) the safeguarding requirements of their younger child (aged 13), who has been assessed to be a ‘child in need’ and is said to have a documented clinical history which renders their existing accommodation unsafe.
  3. By their application for interim relief, the Claimants seek a mandatory interim injunction requiring the Defendant to secure and provide safe and suitable interim accommodation within 72 hours of service of the court’s order. The urgency is said to arise from their younger child’s needs, and from asserted imminent homelessness, further to an order for possession relating to the Claimants’ existing accommodation which required possession to be given by 19 March 2026.
  4. Irrespective of whether there is any merit in the underlying claim for judicial review, I am not satisfied that it is appropriate to grant the urgent interim relief sought as matters stand. The Defendant’s letter of 12 May 2026, regarding housing allocation, records the need for a ground floor, or maximum first floor, property. From the Defendant’s letter of 13 May 2026, it is apparent that: (1) no notice of eviction from the current property has yet been issued by the bailiffs, from which it follows that homelessness is not imminent; (2) the Claimants have elected to remain in possession of that property pending receipt of such a notice, notwithstanding an offer of alternative emergency accommodation by the Defendant; and (3) nevertheless, they have been informed that, ‘Should you now wish to be provided with alternative accommodation, I would strongly advise you to contact your new case officer Ms Connor. Ms Connor will ensure that alternative suitable accommodation is provided at a time convenient to both you and your household.’ In all such circumstances, no requirement arises for the interim relief sought.

Anonymity

  1. The details of the Claimants’ younger child’s circumstances are sensitive. Non- disclosure of the Claimants’ identities is necessary for the protection of that child’s interests. The potentially competing rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial (the principle of open justice) are protected by the liberty to apply provision made by paragraph 4 of the above orders, in which the reference to ‘other interested persons’ would encompass representatives of the Press and other media.

Signed: Mrs Justice Ellenbogen

Dated: 19/05/26