TB -v- Hampshire County Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case No: CO/4730/2022

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

16 December 2022

Before:

The Honourable Mr Justice Bourne

Between:

The King on the application of
TB

-v-

Hampshire County Council

Order

On an application by the Claimant for interim relief
Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant
ORDER by the Honourable Mr Justice Bourne

  1. The Defendant shall file and serve its acknowledgment of service and grounds of resistance and a written response to the interim relief application within 7 days of service of this order.
  2. The applications for permission and for interim relief shall be placed before a Judge for consideration within 14 days of service of this order.
  3. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) the Claimant shall be anonymised and shall be referred to only as “TB” until further order.
  4. There is liberty to apply to vary or discharge this order on 2 days’ written notice.

Reasons

  1. This application appears to have been issued on 15 December 2022 with a view to the Claimant being provided with a bail address in time for a bail application today, 16 December 2022. That timescale was never likely to be realistic, as is illustrated by the fact that the application did not come to my attention until 11.45 a.m. today.
  2. In any event, there is little point in ordering a local authority to do something which may be impossible. An application of this kind needs the input of the Defendant.
  3. I have therefore expedited the permission process and ordered a response to the interim relief application (subject to any application to vary). This should enable interim relief to be considered within a short time. However, the Claimant’s solicitors should inform the Court forthwith if any changes to the bail situation mean that the need for interim relief has changed.
  4. On the face of it, anonymity for the Claimant who is a vulnerable child is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect his interests