MA -v- Hampshire County Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-LON-002955

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

8 September 2025

Before:

HHJ Sylvia de Bertodano
sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court

Between:

The King
on the application of
MA

-v-

Hampshire County Council

Order

On an application by the Claimant for permission, anonymity, appointment of a litigation friend, and interim relief

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER by HHJ Sylvia de Bertodano sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court

Anonymity

  1. (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 MA.
    (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) This order will be reviewed (a) at the stage when a decision is made on whether permission should be granted; and (b) after final determination of the claim.
  2. The Defendant’s Response shall be filed and served within 7 days of the date of this order.
  3. The Claimant’s applications for interim relief, appointment of a litigation friend, and permission shall be placed before a judge as soon as possible after receipt of the Defendant’s Response, or after 7 days from the date of this Order, whichever is the sooner.
  4. Costs reserved.

Observations

  1. The Claimant has challenged the lawfulness of an age assessment conducted by the Defendant on 7 July 2025.
  2. A Pre-Action Protocol letter was served on the Defendant by the Claimant on 30 July 2025.
  3. I note that the Defendant failed to serve an Acknowledgement of Service within 14 days of that date or at any time thereafter.
  4. This claim was issued on 3 September 2025; the Claimant requested a 6 day urgent consideration decision to allow the Defendant time to respond to the application.
  5. At the time of drafting this note no response has been received from the Defendant.
  6. Notwithstanding the Defendant’s failure to serve an Acknowledgement of Service, I am not minded to make any orders (including an order for the interim relief sought) beyond anonymity without giving the Defendant an opportunity to file and serve a Response.
  7. However, given the Claimant’s concerns and his claim to be 17 years old, I have set out an expedited timetable above.

HHJ Sylvia de Bertodano
8 September 2025