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

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2023-LON-003649

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

11 December 2023

Before:

The Honourable Mr Justice Eyre

Between:

The King on the application of
VLB

-v-

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Order

On an application by the Claimant for anonymisation and for directions as to interim relief.
Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant
ORDER by the Honourable Mr Justice Eyre

  1. Pursuant to CPR Rule 5.4A-5.4D and Rule 39.2, with effect from the date of this order and until further order:
    (a) The Claimant shall hereinafter be referred to in these proceedings as “VLB” and there shall be substituted for all purposes of this case, in place of references to the name of the Claimant, reference to “VLB”;
    (b) There shall be no publication of any name, address, picture or other information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant as being the Claimant in these proceedings;
    (c) In paragraph (b) “publication” means communication to the public or any section of the public whether by way of report of the proceedings or otherwise. It includes publication in a newspaper or broadcast, or on the internet, by any person;
    (d) The Defendant, and any party served with or given notice of the anonymity order, has permission to apply to discharge or vary that order. Any application for that purpose must be made in writing, on notice to all parties;
    (e) Pursuant to CPR rule 5.4C a person who is not a party to the proceedings may obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the court records only if the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised such that: (i) the Claimant is referred to in those documents only as “VLB”; and (ii) any reference to the names of the Claimant be deleted from those documents
    (f) Any application for permission to inspect or obtain a non-anonymised version of a document must be made on notice to the Claimant and in accordance with CPR r.5.4C(6).
  2. The Defendant shall file and serve such response to the application for interim relief as is advised by 4.00pm on 18th December 2023.
  3. The application for interim relief shall be referred to a judge or deputy judge of the Administrative Court for further consideration on 19th December 2023 or as soon as practicable thereafter. For the avoidance of doubt such reference shall be made even if the Defendant has not filed any response to the application by 4.00pm on 18th December 2023.
  4. Such judge shall determine the further progress of the application for interim relief including the listing of any hearing in respect of that application.
  5. Costs reserved.

This order has been made without a hearing. Any party affected by this order may apply within 7 days of the service of this order on that party to have it set aside, varied, or stayed.

Reasons

  1. I am satisfied that anonymisation is necessary in the light of the circumstances of the Claimant and the interests of her child.
  2. The Claimant’s position appears to be that the proposal set out in the Defendant’s letter of 27th November 2023 would be acceptable if the matter were addressed promptly and subject to the location of the accommodation provided.
  3. In light of the needs of the Claimant and more particularly of her child it is appropriate that the Defendant be required to respond promptly and that there be prompt further consideration of the matter and my order provides for that. However, the further progress of this matter; the degree of urgency required; and the listing of any hearing as to interim relief is best considered in the light of the response from the Defendant rather than now.