Social Work England -v- CW (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtQueen's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case Number: CO/3461/2022

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

12 October 2022

Before:
Mr Justice Fordham

Between:
Social Work England
-v-
CW


Anonymity Order

UPON the Claimant’s application dated 23 September 2022
IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2, the identity of the Defendant shall be anonymized as “CW” and there is to be no reporting of the Defendant’s name or the name of any child or any partner or former partner of the Defendant nor of any matter which could give rise to their being identified.
  2. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C any non-party who applies for a copy of any document from the court files may obtain only redacted versions of documents filed with the Court, such suitably redacted documents to be filed by the Claimant within 7 days of this Order.
  3. Liberty to any person to apply on notice to the parties to vary or discharge this Order.
  4. No order as to costs.

Observations

This is a claim due to be heard tomorrow. I have dealt with this aspect protectively, on the papers. The application asks me to direct a hearing in private; alternatively anonymity. I am satisfied that the course less restrictive of open justice – an anonymity order – is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of any child, but also that it is sufficient to do so. Indeed, I will have read the papers and my current view is that it should not even be necessary for any person addressing the Court, nor the Court, to be describing names or events for the purposes of tomorrow’s application for an extension of an interim order. An open judgment should be possible. If any of this changes, it can be raised at the hearing and a part-private hearing and/or part-closed judgment could be considered. There is liberty to apply. C will need to file the suitably redacted documents.