RF1 -v- Sir John Mitting (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-003298

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
KING’S BENCH DIVISION
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
(Mr Justice Sheldon)

22 July 2026

Before:

Mr Justice Sheldon

Between:

THE KING on the application of
RF1 (Anonymity sought by the Defendant)

-v-

SIR JOHN MITTING, SITTING AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNDERCOVER
POLICING INQUIRY

and

(1) UCPI DESIGNATED LAWYER OFFICERS CORE PARTICIPANT GROUP

(2) THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS
(Interested Parties)

Order

UPON the Defendant’s application for restrictions on open justice dated 16 July 2026

UPON it appearing that the temporary non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of third parties

AND UPON the Court considering that the issue of restrictions on open justice should be determined at a hearing

AND PURSUANT to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and CPR rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4)

WHEREAS for the purposes of this order:
(1) “Publication” includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public, or any person
(2) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (1) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.

IT IS ORDERED THAT

Restrictions on open justice

  1. Pending the hearing referred to at paragraph 8, the identity the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is confidential and shall not be published.
  2. Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and CPR rule 39.2(4):
    a. there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication (including by the Claimant) the name or address of the Claimant or of their immediate family members, or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) or matter that likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant in these proceedings. The Claimant shall be referred to as ‘RF1’ in this claim;
    b. there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication (including by the Claimant) the name or address of the undercover officer linked to the Claimant or of their immediate family members, or any details (including their Herne nominal, other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) or matter that likely to lead to the identification of that individual in these proceedings. That individual shall be referred to as ‘HNX’ in this claim;
  3. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
    a. The Claimant shall be referred to as ‘RF1’;
    b. The linked undercover officer shall be referred to as ‘HNX’.
    c. Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of the Claimant or ‘HNX’ (including any names of other family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.
  4. Pursuant to CPR rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    a. A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 3(a) to (b) above.
    b. If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the parties.
  5. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 22nd July 2026 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
  6. Any person wishing to apply to vary or discharge this Order must make an application to the Court on at least seven days’ notice to each party.
  7. Pursuant to the exception to the ordinary practice under Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders, paragraph 2, there shall not be any publication of this order on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice
    Hearing
  8. The Defendant’s application for restrictions on open justice shall be determined at an oral hearing heard in private in the week commencing 10th August 2026, with a time estimate of 2 hours. The Parties shall liaise with the Administrative Court to fix the date of the hearing.
  9. The Defendant shall file and serve a hearing bundle no less than 7 days before the hearing.
  10. The Defendant shall file and serve a skeleton argument no less than 7 days before the hearing.
  11. Any other party may file and serve a skeleton argument no less than 3 days before the hearing.
  12. The Defendant shall file and serve an authorities bundle no less than 1 day before the hearing.