XYZ -v- The Chief Constable of Surrey Police (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim Number: KB-2025-001359

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

24 February 2026

Before:

Master Armstrong

Between:

XYZ

-v-

The Chief Constable of Surrey Police

Order

UPON HEARING from counsel, Philip Rule KC for the Claimant, and Georgina Wolfe for the Defendant, at a hearing on 24 February 2026

AND UPON the Court considering the matter of anonymity

AND WITH theconsent of the parties

IT IS ORDERED that:-

  1. UPON consideration of the application notice dated 18 December 2025, and upon consideration of the Article 8 ECHR right to respect for private and family life and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression, and the Court considering it to be necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of identified children, pursuant to CPR r.39.2(4), the Court directs that the identity of each of the children of the Claimant shall not be disclosed in any publication or judgment of these proceedings. Accordingly:
    a) There shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the names or addresses of the Claimant, or other immediate family members, or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of the Claimant’s children.
    b) In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto an initialism must be used for the Claimant (“XYZ”) and all family members.
    c) Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of the Claimant’s children (including any names of other immediate family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.
    d) ‘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 general public.
  2. Each party shall file an anonymised set of pleadings before 4pm on Friday 13 March 2026. The cipher “XYZ” shall be used in place of the Claimant in the documents in this case; and “A Chief Constable” for the Defendant.
  3. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    a) A person who is not 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 paragraphs 1 and 2 above.
    b) If a person who is not 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 21 days’ notice to the Claimant’s solicitor and the Defendant’s solicitor.
  4. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 24 February 2026and 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.”
  5. Any interested party, whether or not parties to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on 21 days’ notice to the Claimant’s and Defendant’s solicitors.
  6. Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance:  Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 2019, and CPR r.39.2(5), 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.