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

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2026-LON-002536

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

2 June 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mr Justice Bourne

Between:

The King
on the application of
LEB
(Claimant)

-v-

Secretary of State for the Home Department
(Defendant)

Order

On an application by the Claimant for an injunction to restrain his removal to Albania on 3 June 2026

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER BY THE HON. MR JUSTICE BOURNE

  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 LEB.

(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.

(e) If this Order is still in place, it must be reconsidered when the application for permission to claim judicial review is determined.

  1. Application for an interim injunction:

(a) The application for an injunction is refused.

  1. Abridgement of time and expedition:

(a) The Defendant’s Acknowledgement of Service (CPR 54.8) must be filed and served by 4pm on 9 June 2026

(b) Any Reply from the Claimant (CPR 54.8A) must be filed and served by 4pm on 16 June 2026.

(c) The papers are to be referred to a judge or deputy judge as soon as possible thereafter for consideration of the application for permission to claim judicial review.

  1. Costs:

(a) Costs reserved.

REASONS

(1) Anonymity: The Claimant is granted anonymity for the purpose of this application and solely to preserve the position, until further order.

(2) Injunction application: I have assumed in the Claimant’s favour that there is a serious question to be tried and have gone on to consider the balance of convenience. There is no evidence of a direct threat to the Claimant upon arrival in Albania, which is a signatory to the ECHR and ECAT. I have no reason to assume that he could not access psychiatric help for his depression in Albania. The evidence is that the Claimant voluntarily visited Albania as recently as 2025. He would be able to continue to pursue his claim from there. I have granted expedition, with a view to a permission decision being made within a short period of time. That will enable the court to assess the merits of the claim with the benefit of representations from both sides. If, at that stage, it is shown that the claimant is at real risk of harm then it would be open to the Claimant to make a further application for interim relief by way of an order requiring the defendant to permit the claimant to return to the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, there is a strong public interest in the Secretary of State being able to pursue her policy of removing those who arrive in boats, unless or until the policy or an individual return decision is shown to be unlawful. The balance of convenience therefore comes down against the grant of an injunction.

(3) Abridgement of time/expedition: As I have said, my order is intended to bring about a permission decision within a fairly short time.

Signed: MR JUSTICE BOURNE
Date: 2 JUNE 2026