The implications of Abbasi on injunctive orders restraining publicity related to public law children cases

James Dove, Harcourt Chambers

In this article, James Dove examines how the Supreme Court’s decision in Abbasi v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Haastrup v King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2025] UKSC 15 could reshape the approach to anonymity and reporting restrictions in public law children cases.

The judgment clarifies the limits of the court’s power to grant injunctions restraining publicity and raises important questions about the continued protection of social workers, guardians and clinicians under current model transparency orders. James suggests that the President of the Family Division and the Transparency Implementation Group may need to revisit those orders to ensure they remain consistent with the principles set out in Abbasi.

James practises from Harcourt Chambers and specialises in complex care proceedings involving serious injuries, fictitious or induced illness, and sexual abuse, as well as deprivation of liberty and Court of Protection cases.

Read the full article here.