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

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2026-LON-002600

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

4 June 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mrs Justice Ellenbogen DBE

Between:

The King
on the application of
MCO
(Claimant/Applicant)

-v-

Secretary of State for the Home Department
(Defendant/Respondent)

Order

On an application by the Claimant for urgent interim relief, dated 4 June 2026, and for an order granting anonymity

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER by The Hon. Mrs Justice Ellenbogen DBE

  1. The identity of the Claimant in these proceedings shall not be published.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 Claimant or any other matters which could lead to her identification.
  3. In any report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation to these proceedings, the Claimant shall be referred to as “MCO” and any matters which could lead to the identification of the Claimant 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 no fewer than 5 days’ prior written notice to the Claimant of the intention to make such an application.

  1. This Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales pursuant to CPR r.39.2(5).
  2. The Defendant shall file and serve any response to the Claimant’s application for urgent interim relief, together with any supporting evidence, by 4.00pm on Tuesday 9 June 2026.
  3. The Claimant’s application for urgent interim relief, together with any response and evidence filed and served by the Defendant in accordance with paragraph 6 above, shall be placed before a judge of the Administrative Court by no later than midday on Wednesday 10 June 2026. At that stage, the judge may determine the Claimant’s application, or give directions for further submissions and/or an oral hearing.
  4. Costs reserved.

REASONS

9. This matter is before me as ‘immediates’ judge.

10. The Claimant is a Hong Kong national. She seeks to challenge an asserted ongoing failure by the Defendant to provide her with suitable accommodation under Schedule 10 to the Immigration Act 2016. It is said that such offers of accommodation as have been made to date do not comply with the need, agreed by the Defendant on 16 February 2026, for accommodation to be located within an hour’s travelling time of an identified hospital at which she is in receipt of medical treatment, or have not disclosed its location. The Claimant is in receipt of a positive conclusive grounds decision, dated 28 April 2026, as a victim of trafficking, and it is said that her entitlement to support under the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract is due to end on 12 June 2026, failing the extension of which, or suitable Schedule 10 support, she will be destitute. Her current accommodation is said to be precarious for independent reasons.

11. This matter concerns the Claimant’s wellbeing as someone who is vulnerable and accepted to have been a victim of domestic servitude and forced labour over a period exceeding 20 years. She suffers from poor mental and physical health. It is appropriate that the need for interim relief be considered with some urgency, however, the court will be assisted by the Defendant’s response to the application, which, so far as consistent with that urgency, she must be given appropriate time to provide. The time allowed by paragraph 6 of the above order, together with the order made by paragraph 7, strikes that balance. I do not consider it to be necessary or proportionate to grant interim relief in the meantime.

    Anonymity

    12. The Claimant’s circumstances, as described above, justify the anonymity order sought; 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 at paragraph 4(c), in which ‘any interested party’ would include representatives of the Press and other media.

      13. Costs reserved.

      Signed: Mrs Justice Ellenbogen

      Dated: 04/06/26