Defence redaction is the removal of personal data from a defence and any counterclaim filed with it. CPR 16.5(1) requires it to say which allegations are denied, which cannot be admitted or denied, and which are admitted. anonym.plus marks each identifier on your device, so the responses stay intact while the data goes.
When this applies
The clock is short. The rules allow 14 days after service of the particulars of claim, or 28 days where an acknowledgment of service was filed. A counterclaim filed at the same time needs no permission, and it usually brings fresh identifiers with it. Both documents are statements of case, so both reach the court record.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the statement of case in anonym.plus on your device.
- The tool flags identifiers in the defence and the counterclaim.
- Local OCR reads any attached scanned exhibit.
- Keep numbered paragraph references intact.
- Swap or black out the confirmed items.
- Save the clean pleading locally.
What you need to provide
- The defence or counterclaim (PDF, DOCX, TXT).
- An operator (Replace keeps numbering readable).
- Optional allow-list for paragraph and claim numbers.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | QQ 50 98 82 B → [NINO] |
| Names | PERSON | Part 20 Claimant Ortiz → [PARTY] |
| Financial | UK_BANK_NUMBER | acct 1190 → [ACCOUNT] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | DOB 1984 → [DOB] |
| Minor | PERSON | child M.O. → [MINOR] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | ortiz@example.com → [EMAIL] |
Compliance achieved
- Keeps each admission, denial, and reason for denial that CPR 16.5(1) and CPR 16.5(2) require of a defence.
- Works inside the filing window in CPR 15.4(1): 14 days after service of the particulars, or 28 days where an acknowledgment of service was filed.
- Handles the counterclaim filed with the defence without permission under CPR 20.4(2)(a), in the same local pass.
- Treats both documents as statements of case under CPR 2.3(1), so both are cleaned before CPR 5.4C(1) access applies.
- Applies UK GDPR Art. 5(1)(c) minimisation to new allegations as well as old.
Anonymise defences and counterclaims offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
A counterclaim can add facts that re-identify a party indirectly. The tool flags named items but cannot judge unique narrative clues, and it does not check whether a denial meets CPR 16.5(2). Review new allegations before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Does the tool handle both parts together?
Yes. Both are scanned in one pass, so identifiers in each are flagged at once. CPR 20.4(2)(a) lets the two be filed together without permission, which is why they travel as one set.
Will my paragraph numbering survive?
Yes. Use the allow-list to protect paragraph and claim numbers. CPR 16.5(1) works paragraph by paragraph against the particulars of claim, so that alignment matters.
Is the draft uploaded for processing?
No. The app works offline on your device, so the pleading stays privileged while you work inside the filing window.