Key-document redaction is the removal of personal data from a document reviewers flag as central to the case. Under CPR PD 57AD, parties in the Business and Property Courts must give Initial Disclosure of the key documents they rely on, before any wider Extended Disclosure exercise begins. anonym.plus runs locally and keeps the content that makes the item matter.
When this applies
A key document is exactly the kind of item CPR PD 57AD's Initial Disclosure duty is built around — the documents a party relies on, and the ones the other side needs to understand the case it must meet. It still carries third-party PII that must come out before it is exchanged, cited in a statement of case, or later filed.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the file in anonym.plus on your device.
- It flags names, contacts, and IDs around the relevant text.
- Mark the relevant passage to keep it intact.
- Confirm the flags away from the responsive content.
- Black out or mask each confirmed value.
- Save the clean document on your device.
What you need to provide
- The file (PDF, DOCX, email, or scan).
- An allow-list to keep the relevant passage.
- An operator; Redact for filed material.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | non-party name → [NAME] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | phone → [PHONE] |
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | NINO → [NINO] |
| Account | UK_SORT_CODE | sort code → [SORT_CODE] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | date → [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | address → [ADDRESS] |
Compliance achieved
- Fits the CPR PD 57AD Initial Disclosure duty to identify the key documents a party relies on.
- Keeps the relevance test in CPR 31.6 in view — the redaction targets data, not the substance that makes the document key.
- Applies CPR 5.4C identifier limits if the item is later filed at court.
- Offline work keeps the item inside your firm.
Anonymise key documents offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
A hot document earns close scrutiny, so cut errors are costly. Keep the relevant passage with an allow-list, and clear only PII that is not at issue. Over-clearing such an item can draw a challenge from the other side.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a document a 'key document'?
In the Business and Property Courts, CPR PD 57AD's Initial Disclosure duty covers the documents a party relies on and the ones the other side needs to understand the claim or defence it faces — a narrower, earlier set than full Extended Disclosure.
How do I keep the relevant text while clearing PII?
An allow-list keeps the passage that matters to the case, under the CPR 31.6 relevance test, while the tool clears third-party PII around it.
What changes once the document is filed?
CPR 5.4C then limits which personal identifiers may appear on a document open to public inspection, on top of whatever redaction the disclosure exercise itself already required.