CE-File submission redaction is the removal of personal data before a document is lodged through HMCTS CE-File. Once filed, a non-party may seek the record under CPR 5.4C. anonym.plus marks each identifier on your device, so the filer, not the public, controls the data.
When this applies
CE-File places the submission on the court record, where CPR 5.4C access may follow. You must trim identifiers before the upload, because removal afterward is hard.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the document in anonym.plus on your device.
- The tool flags NI numbers, account numbers, and birth dates.
- Local OCR reads scanned exhibits before upload.
- Confirm the flags and keep the case heading.
- Swap or black out the confirmed identifiers.
- Save the clean version, then lodge it.
What you need to provide
- The document to lodge (PDF, DOCX, scan).
- An operator: Replace, Redact, or Mask.
- Optional batch for a multi-exhibit upload.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | QQ 12 34 56 C → [NINO] |
| Financial | UK_BANK_NUMBER | acct 4412 → [ACCOUNT] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | DOB 1979 → [DOB] |
| Minor | PERSON | child A.M. → [MINOR] |
| Names | PERSON | party named → [PARTY] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | party@example.com → [EMAIL] |
Compliance achieved
- Applies CPR 5.4C & DPA 2018 before the document reaches the record.
- Catches identifiers in scanned exhibits via local OCR.
- Offline work keeps the upload draft on your machine.
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Limitations & cautions
Once a document is on the court record, removal needs an application and court action. Clean it before upload. The tool flags named items, so review free-text clues yourself first.
Frequently asked questions
Why redact before, not after, lodging on CE-File?
The record is open to a non-party under CPR 5.4C once filed. Fixing a missed identifier afterward needs an application, so clean it on your device first.
Can I clean a multi-exhibit upload at once?
Yes. Batch mode handles up to 20 documents per run, with OCR for scanned exhibits.
Is the draft sent to any server before I lodge it?
No. The app is fully offline. You control when the clean copy goes to CE-File.