XFH -v- Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity OrderOrder

Claim number: KB-2024-000644

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

17 July 2025

Before:

Master Eastman

Between:

XFH

-v-

Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

Order

UPON reading the Claimant’s Application dated 11 December 2024.

AND UPON Consideration of the Article 8 rights of the Claimant to respect for private
and family life, and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.

AND UPON hearing from Ms Zoe McCallum for the Claimant and Mr Edmund Garnett for the Defendant

AND UPON it appearing to the Court:
a) That the action is one likely to attract publicity;
b) That non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of the Claimant and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure;
c) That accordingly publication of details revealing the Claimant’s identity ought to be prohibited;

AND PURSUANT to s.6 of the Human Rights Act 1998, s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, Rules 5.4A to 5.4D and 39.2(4), s.37 Senior Courts Act 1981, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court:

WHEREAS for the purposes of this order:
(i) ‘Publication’ includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public.

(ii) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (i) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is confidential and shall not be published.
  2. There shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the name or address of the Claimant or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of the Claimant in these proceedings. The Claimant shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 3 of this Order.
  3. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
    a. The Claimant shall be referred to as “XFH”.
    b. Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of the Claimant shall be redacted before publication.
  4. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    a. A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 3(i) to (ii) above.
    b. If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to all parties.
  5. The Claimant has permission to amend the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim showing the Claimant’s address as that of his solicitors, and to replace references to the Claimant’s name to the letters “XFH”.
  6. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court an electronic (PDF) bundle of the statements of case that have been anonymised in accordance with paragraph 3 above by 24 July, and re-filed in the event that any statement of case is amended, within 21 days of such amendment being approved.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 3 July 2025 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
  8. Any person affected by this Order, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on 14 days’ notice to all parties.
  9. Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 2019 a copy of this Order shall be published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (www.judiciary.uk). For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk.
  10. Costs in the case.