ZR -v- London Borough of Haringey and another (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2023-LON-003806

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

20 December 2023

Before:

The Honourable Mrs Justice Lang DBE

Between:

The King on the application of
ZR

-v-

London Borough of Haringey

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Order

On the Claimant’s application for urgent consideration and interim relief;
Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant;

Order by the Honourable Mrs Justice Lang DBE

1. Pursuant to CPR r.39.2, in any report of these proceedings, there shall be no publication of the name and address of the Claimant, nor any other particulars likely to lead to their identification. In the proceedings, the Claimant shall be anonymised and referred to as “ZR”.

2. The First Defendant shall provide suitable accommodation for the Claimant, in accordance with section 188(1) Housing Act 1996, no later than 4.00 pm on Thursday 21 December 2023.

3. Liberty to apply to vary or discharge this order on 2 days notice to the other party.

4. Costs reserved.

Reasons

1. I have made an anonymity order as the Claimant is a recently recognised refugee and his family may be at risk of harm in their home country. Therefore a departure from the general principle of open justice is justified.

2. The Claimant has an arguable claim, with a reasonable prospect of success, that the First Defendant’s refusal to grant his application for housing under section 188(1) Housing Act 1996 was unlawful. He is homeless, and he is in priority need as a refugee who is vulnerable by reason of mental illness, as confirmed by a psychiatric report.

3. The balance of convenience clearly lies in favour of the grant of interim relief. The Claimant was evicted from Home Office accommodation on 6 December 2023, after the grant of refugee status. He has no one to stay with, and he has become street homeless, travelling long distances on the bus at night, in an attempt to stay warm and dry.