LCS -v- London Borough of Harrow (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2026-LON-003058

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

2 July 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mrs Justice Heather Williams

Between:

LCS
(a child, by LHW, her mother and Litigation Friend)
(Claimant)

-v-

London Borough of Harrow
(Defendant)

Order

On an application by the Claimant for urgent consideration, interim relief and directions

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER by the Hon. Mrs Justice Heather Williams:

  1. Anonymity:

(a) Under the Court’s inherent jurisdiction and pursuant to 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;

(ii) the Claimant is to be referred to orally and in writing as “LCS”; and

(iii) the Claimant’s litigation friend is to be referred to orally and in writing as “LHW”.

(b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimant or her litigation friend of any matter likely to lead to their identification 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 and serve a redacted copy of any statement of case already filed, omitting the name, address and any other information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant or her litigation friend;

(ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant or her litigation friend, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time and must then be served with the unredacted version;

(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.

  1. Timetable for submissions and paper decision on interim relief:

(a) The Defendant may file and serve any response to the application for interim relief and directions by 4pm on 7 July 2026.

(b) The Claimant may file and serve a reply to that response by 4pm on 9 July 2026.

(c) The papers are to be referred to a judge or deputy judge for a decision whether to grant interim relief and the directions sought by the Claimant as soon as possible thereafter.

  1. Appointment of litigation friend:

The Claimant’s mother “LHW” is appointed as his litigation friend pursuant to CPR r.21.

4. Costs reserved.

REASONS

Anonymity: The Claimant is a 16-year-old boy with severe disabilities. The case concerns the details of his care and educational needs. There are additional vulnerabilities within his immediate family. The privacy rights of the Claimant and his immediate family are engaged. In the circumstances I am satisfied that there are compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the fundamental principle of open justice in paragraph 1.

Timetable for submissions and paper decision on interim relief: The Claimant seeks mandatory interim order requiring the Defendant: (i) to secure a suitable residential educational placement for him by 4 September 2026 (in time for the new school year) and (ii) to provide a detailed plan within three days of the date of the Court’s order setting out the package of care and support it will implement pending the identification of the suitable residential educational placement. Whilst the circumstances described in the Statement of Facts and Grounds and the Application for Urgent Consideration warrant prompt judicial consideration, I do not consider that the situation is so urgent that the Court should address the application for mandatory interim relief without giving the Defendant some opportunity to make representations and I have made directions accordingly.

The Defendant may address the application for expedition and the listing of a rolled-up hearing within the same timescale.

Signed: Mrs Justice Heather Williams
Dated: 02/07/26