TWC -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2025-LON-001687

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

9 July 2025

Before:

Hugh Southey KC

Between:

The King on the application of
TWC

-v-

Secretary of State for the Home Department


Order

On applications by the Claimant for anonymity, expedition and 2 witness statements and by the Defendant for an extension of time to serve an acknowledgement of service.

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant and the Defendant.

ORDER BY HUGH SOUTHEY KC (sitting as a 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 .
    (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.
    (d) Any person wishing to vary or discharge this Order must make an application, served on each party.
  2. Time for service of Defendant’s Acknowledgement of Service:
    (a) The Defendant’s Acknowledgement of Service (CPR 54.8) must be filed and served by 4pm on 14 July.
    (b) Any Reply from the Claimant (CPR 54.8A) must be filed and served by 4pm on 18 July 2025.
    (c) The papers are to be referred to a judge or deputy judge immediately thereafter.

Reasons

(1) Anonymity: The Claimant claims to be a victim of trafficking. There is evidence that naming the Claimant will increase the risk he would face if returned to his country of origin. There are accordingly compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the principle of open justice in paragraph 1.
(2) Time table: It appears to me that there is some need for expedition in this matter. It also appears to me that the Defendant has had a long enough period to reply. However, permission should be determined by a judge sighted of the full picture. As a consequence, I will grant the Defendant a further short period to reply. I doubt that any further extension will be granted although I cannot bind another judge. Expedition can then be considered by the judge who decides on permission.
(3) Witness statements: The issue of witness statements can be considered by the judge dealing with permission. They will have the benefit of the Defendant’s observations (if any).