Social Work England -v- ASD (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2025-LDS-000175

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

In the matter of an application to extend an interim order under paragraph 14(2) of schedule 2 of the Social Workers Regulations 2018 (as amended)

1 September 2025

Before:

Deputy High Court Judge Ridge

Between:

Social Work England
(Claimant)

-v-

ASD
(Defendant)

Anonymity order

1.1 UPON the Claimant’s application dated 21 August 2025

AND UPON reading those documents recorded on the Court file (including the supporting N244 and continuation sheet, and the witness statement of Eleanor Poole dated 21 August 2025 in relation to the application for the Interim Order imposed on the Defendant Social Worker’s registration to be extended)

AND UPON:
(1) Consideration of the Article 8 rights of the Defendant and their child to respect for private and family life, and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.

(2) It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Defendant and their child is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of the complainant (person 1) and the Defendant’s child (child 1) and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.

(3) Pursuant to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998; section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and CPR Rules 39.2 (3) and (4).

IT IS ORDERED THAT:
1.1 The Defendant in this matter is entitled to anonymity until further order and there must be substituted for all purposes in this claim in place of references to the Defendant by name, and whether orally or in writing, reference to “ASD”.
1.2 No order as to costs.

  1. A non-party may not inspect or obtain a copy of any document from the court file other than this order (duly anonymised) without the permission of the Court. Any application for such permission must be made on notice to the Claimant and Defendant.
  2. A non-party may not obtain any copy statement of case or other document from the Court file unless it has been edited (anonymised) in accordance with this direction.
  3. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) and s.11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, the publication or disclosure of the identity of the Defendant or of any material tending to identify the Defendant shall be prohibited.
  4. The Court’s CE-file system shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 1 September 2025 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.”
  5. The Defendant or any non-party affected by this anonymity order may on 7 days’ notice to set it aside or vary it.
  6. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(5) and the Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders dated 16 April 2019 a copy of this order shall be published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (www.judiciary.uk). For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to judicialwebupdates@ejudiciary.uk
  7. The parties be given 14 days’ notice should a non-party make an application to obtain documents other than the claim form, judgment or order (pursuant to CPR 5.4C(2)), before the Court considers any such application, and that the parties be given the opportunity to respond to the application (including proposals for editing/ redacting sensitive content).
  8. No order as to costs.

Signed: K Ridge
Dated: 1st September 2025