University of Cambridge v Persons Unknown (European Legal Support Centre intervening)

By application filed 12 February 2025 and first publicised on 19 February 2025, the University sought a five-year final injunction prohibiting Persons Unknown from entering, interfering with access to or erecting structures at specified locations “for a purpose connected with the Palestine-Israel conflict”. The application followed direct action at the Senate House and Greenwich House sites by Cambridge for Palestine in May and November-December 2024.

Mr Justice Fordham declined to make the order sought, on the basis that he was neither satisfied that it would be procedurally fair to do so, nor that there was any compelling justification or imminent risk requiring it. Instead, he ordered a “very limited” injunction covering only the graduation ceremony due to take place at the Senate House on 1 March 2025. A hearing has been directed for later in March 2025 to enable further consideration of the University’s application.

The judgment provides important guidance on the procedural fairness requirements for entities seeking injunctions without named defendants. It confirms that publication of the fact of proceedings must be made “as soon as practicable” after an application has been filed, to allow affected persons and potential interveners to make submissions. Highlighting that the University had only publicised its application 5 working days before the listed hearing date, the Judge found that “there ought to have been earlier and more prompt action, and therefore greater notice” by the University.

The decision has been widely reported in the press, including by the Independent, Times Higher Education and the BBC.

Grant Kynaston acted (unled) for the European Legal Support Centre as Intervener.

The judgment is available here.