The Health and Care Professions Council -v- ASC (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-LON-004400

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

5 January 2026

Before:

Andrew Kinnier KC
(Sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court)

Between:

The Health and Care Professions Council

-v-

ASC

Order

On an application by the Claimant dated 8 December 2025 that (a) the Claimant’s claim for an extension of an interim order be heard in private on 9 January 2026; (b) an anonymity order and (c) non-disclosure of documents submitted in support of the Claimant’s claim

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER BY ANDREW KINNIER K.C.
(Sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court)

  1. Anonymity:

(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 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 “ASC”.

(b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimant or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.

(c) Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):

(i) the parties must within 7 days file a redacted copy of any statement of case filed, omitting the name, address and any other information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant;

(ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time;

(iii) unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4C(6), no non-party many obtain a copy of any unredacted statement of case.

  1. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(3)(c) and (g), the hearing on 9 January 2026 shall be in private.
  2. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4), a non-party may not obtain a copy of the Claimant’s statement of case (including the documents appended to it) (unedited or otherwise) without applying to the court. Any such application shall be made on giving 10 working days’ notice to the parties to this claim.
  3. Any person wishing to vary or discharge any element of this Order must make an application, served on each party.

REASONS

  1. Anonymity: The claim relies on sensitive information relating to a criminal investigation of serious potential offences, disclosure of which may adversely affect the Defendant’s rights and those of others pending a decision whether or not to prosecute and/or undermine the administration of justice. Although there has been some media interest in the subject-matter of the criminal investigation, thus far the Defendant’s identity has not been published. An anonymity order provides the necessary and proportionate means of preserving the position balanced by the provision that allows an application to vary/discharge paragraph 1 as well as other elements of the order. In the circumstances, there are compelling reasons for the limited derogation from the principle of open justice in paragraph 1.
  2. Hearing in private: For the same reasons, under CPR 39.2(3)(c) and (g), I am satisfied that it is appropriate to hear the Claimant’s claim in private on 9 January 2026. Having read the evidence relied upon by the Claimant in support of its claim and the application, I am satisfied that, for the purposes of (c), it involves confidential information relevant to a continuing criminal investigation of serious potential offences and publicity would damage that confidentiality. I am also satisfied that, for the purposes of (g), it is necessary to hear the claim in private so as to avoid compromising the integrity of a continuing criminal investigation and so undermine the administration of justice.
  3. Supply of documents to a non-party from the court records: In the circumstances of this case, under CPR 5.4C(4), it is necessary and proportionate to order that any non- party must apply to obtain a copy of the Claimant’s statement of case (including the documents exhibited to it).

Signed: Andrew Kinnier K.C.

Date: 5 January 2026