Safe Passage International and others -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity OrderOrder

Claim numbers: AC-2025-LON-004291
AC-2025-LON-004550
AC-2025-LON-004658
AC-2026-LON-000295

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

6 March 2026

BEFORE:

THE HON MR JUSTICE FORDHAM

BETWEEN:

THE KING on the applications of
(1) SAFE PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL (claim 4291)
(2) AXY and (3) BSZ (claim 4550)
(4) ESH (claim 4658)
(5) MAN (claim 0295)

-v-

Secretary of State for the Home Department

and

(1) EXC (2) EXD (3) EXT (claim 4658)
(Interested Parties)

Order

Recitals:

UPON referring to recitals R1-R6 of the Court’s previous Order 19.2.26 (“the February Order”), and the terms of the February Order.

R7. AND UPON claim 0295 (1) having been commenced on 21.1.26 (2) not being drawn to the Court’s attention prior to the decision on 19.2.26 (3) raising grounds which duplicate but do not extend those in R1 to the February Order (4) involving the same claimant’s solicitor and lead counsel (David Jones) as claim 4658 (5) raising an unopposed claim for anonymity (6) raising an unopposed claim for permission for judicial review.

R8. AND UPON the Defendant’s named Counsel being as follows: (1) Jack Holborn in the AOS for claims 4291, 4550 and 4658; (2) Lisa Giovannetti KC, Jack Anderson, Sian Reeves and others in the AOS in claim 0295 (20.2.26); (3) Lisa Giovannetti KC, Jack Anderson, Sian Reeves; (4) but with Alan Payne KC identified as available to substitute for Lisa Giovannetti KC if necessary (the Court recognising GLD’s apt candour in making this disclosure).

R9. AND UPON (1) the Defendant having invited a direction for claim 0295 to be linked and heard at the same time as claims 4291, 4550 and 4658, with variations to the timetable set out in the February Order so that various dates would be later; (2) the Claimants having made observations; and (3) the Court being satisfied that there is no good reason (a) for adding a fourth claim in for the hearing or (b) for varying the timetable.

R10. AND UPON (1) the Defendant having requested an adjournment of the hearing fixed in accordance with the February Order on the grounds of unavailability of core Counsel; (2) there being an FTT hearing 12-14.5.26 which the Defendant wishes to continue on those dates in which the Defendant wishes to retain Lisa Giovannetti KC and Sian Reeves; (3) Lisa Giovannetti KC being said despite R8 (but as the Court accepts) to have been instructed and to have had some prior high level input in relation to claims 4291, 4550 and 4658; (4) the Claimant having made observations; and (5) the Court being satisfied that necessary expedition was identified, an even-handed approach to listing was taken, and that it is and remains in the interests of justice and the public interest – and consistent with the overriding objective – that the fixed hearing and timetable be retained.

R11. AND UPON the Court being satisfied that in claim 0295: (1) anonymity protection is necessary for the reasons in the judicial review grounds §6; and (2) it is appropriate to grant permission for judicial review and stay the proceedings with liberty to restore.

ORDER BY THE HON MR JUSTICE FORDHAM

  1. Anonymity (claim 0295):
    (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 in claim 0295 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 MAN.
    (b) Pursuant to s.11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of those Claimants or 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 relevant parties must within 7 days file a redacted copy of any statement of case filed, omitting the names, addresses and any other information likely to lead to the identification of those Claimants; (ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of those Claimants, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time.
    (d) Unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4C(6), no non-party many obtain a copy of any unredacted statement of case.
    (e) Any person wishing to vary or discharge this Order must make an application, served on each party.
  2. Permission and stay (claim 0295):
    (a) Permission to apply for judicial review is granted in claim 0295 on all grounds.
    (b) The proceedings in claim 0295 are stayed pending the resolution of claims 4291, 4550 and 4658, with liberty to restore.
  3. Substantive hearing and directions (claims 4291, 4550 and 4658):
    (a) The Defendant’s application for an adjournment of the hearing fixed before a High Court Judge on Wednesday 13 May 2026 to Friday 15 May 2026 (time estimate 3 days) is refused.
    (b) The Defendant’s application to join claim 0295 to that hearing, and for suggested variations in the deadlines set by the Court in the February Order, is refused.
    (c) The February Order stands unvaried.