Particulars-of-claim redaction is the removal of personal data from a statement of case before it is filed. CPR 2.3(1) treats the particulars of claim as a statement of case, and CPR 5.4C(1) lets a non-party obtain a copy of that document from the court records. anonym.plus marks each identifier on your own device, so the pleading stays whole while the protected data comes out.
When this applies
CPR 16.4(1)(a) asks for a concise statement of the facts you rely on. In practice those facts quote the parties' own details. Once the claim is on the record a non-party can ask for a copy, and the court can order an edited version under CPR 5.4C(4)(c). It is far cheaper to trim the identifiers before you file than to apply for that order afterwards.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the draft in anonym.plus on your workstation.
- Local OCR reads any scanned exhibit pages attached to it.
- The tool flags NI numbers, account numbers, dates of birth, and children's names.
- Check each flag and clear any case heading caught by mistake.
- Replace each identifier with a label, or black it out.
- Save the clean version. The draft never leaves your machine.
What you need to provide
- The draft (PDF, DOCX, or TXT).
- An operator: Replace (swap), Redact (black out), or Mask (partial).
- Optional: a name map if you must re-link parties later.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | QQ 12 34 56 C → [NINO] |
| Names | PERSON | John A. Mercer → [CLAIMANT] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | DOB 04/12/1979 → [DOB] |
| Financial | UK_BANK_NUMBER | acct 4412 9087 → [ACCOUNT] |
| Minor | PERSON | child A.M. → [MINOR] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | +44 20 7946 0147 → [PHONE] |
Compliance achieved
- Trims identifiers before a non-party can obtain the document under CPR 5.4C(1).
- Leaves intact the concise statement of facts CPR 16.4(1)(a) requires you to plead.
- Flags the claimant's date of birth, which CPR PD 16 requires in a personal injury claim, so you keep it on purpose rather than by accident.
- Applies the data-minimisation duty in UK GDPR Art. 5(1)(c) to every draft.
- Runs offline, so legal advice privilege and litigation privilege stay intact.
- Working copies are kept safe with AES-256-GCM.
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Limitations & cautions
Only the court can order an edited copy under CPR 5.4C(4)(c). The tool flags named identifiers, yet it cannot judge when a free-text fact re-identifies a party. Review narrative paragraphs yourself before you file.
Frequently asked questions
Which details should I trim before the court file is open to others?
Direct identifiers such as NI numbers, full account numbers, addresses, and a child's full name are the usual targets. CPR 5.4C(1) lets a non-party obtain the statement of case itself, so anything you leave in it can be read by someone outside the claim.
Can the court supply an edited copy instead?
Yes. CPR 5.4C(4)(c) lets the court order that a non-party may obtain the statement of case only in edited form, and CPR 5.4C(5) says you apply for that by an application notice under Part 23. Cleaning the draft first avoids the extra application.
Does this keep my draft privileged?
Yes. Work runs on your own device with no cloud step. Nothing is uploaded, so legal advice privilege and litigation privilege are preserved.