Our data

• There has been an overall longer-term reduction in new applications for public and private proceedings following the Covid-19 pandemic that started in March 2020.  

• Cafcass received 55,830 new children's cases in 2023/24 involving 86,419 children. This is 10.3% (-6,378 children’s case / -10,711 children) lower than five years ago (2018/19). 

• Cafcass continues to support a higher number of children annually. The organisation worked with 137,347 children on new or existing proceedings in 2023/24 compared to 133,850 five years ago (2018/19), an increase of 2.6% (3,497) children. 

• More than two thirds (67.3%) of children we worked with are involved in private law proceedings and slightly lower than one third (32.7%) are involved in public law proceedings. 

• The considerable pressure on the family courts means children and families continue to be in proceedings for longer since the Covid-19 pandemic. We produce quarterly data for the length of time we work with children and families in public law Section 31 proceedings.  

• The latest available figures indicate that on average Cafcass’ involvement in S31 applications (Care and Supervision) in Quarter 3 (October – December 2023) took 43 weeks to conclude. In the same period five years ago (October – December 2018) the average duration of Cafcass’ involvement in these cases was 33 weeks. 

Cafcass private law and public law demand statistics are published on the tenth working day of each month. If you have any queries about the statistics, please contact us via our website form.

• In March 2024, Cafcass received 4,892 new children's cases, involving 7,416 children. 

• The average daily demand level in March 2024 was 245 children's cases per working day compared to 229 children's cases received per working day during March 2023. 

• There were 30,254 open children’s cases at the end of March 2024, involving 48,741 children; when compared to the same period last year this is a reduction of 8.1% children’s cases and 8.8% children (-2,650 children’s cases / -4,722 children). 

• A decrease in total case demand (-0.7% / -369 children's cases / -866 children compared to the same period last year).  

• A decrease in public law children's cases (-1.2% / -191 children's cases / -489 children compared to the same period last year). 

• A decrease in private law children's cases (-0.4% / -178 children's cases / -377 children compared to the same period last year). 

Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, Cafcass received 16,057 new public law children’s cases, involving 25,816 children. 

Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, Cafcass received 11,436 new S31 Care Applications, involving 18,891 children. 

There has been a decrease of 508 S31 care applications compared to the same period last year (-4.3%) and represents a decrease of 567 children on total applications received during the financial year. On average, Cafcass has received 953 new care applications per month between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, involving an average of 1,574 children.  

Our public law data shows regularly updated statistics covering both national and local trends for: 

• the total number of public law cases 

• the number of care order applications made by local authorities and the number of children involved (monthly) 

• the length of time taken to complete care and supervision proceedings (quarterly) 

• number of care order applications by local authorities in England (quarterly) 

• the rate of care order applications per ten thousand children population by local authorities in England (annually). 

View our public law demand spreadsheet, which includes open children’s cases as well as the number of children subject to S31 Care applications per 10,000 population.

Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, Cafcass received 39,773 new private law children’s cases, involving 60,603 children. 

Private law demand is generally used to refer to applications made following a divorce or separation about the arrangements for children, such as where a child will live or with whom a child will spend time. 

View our private law demand spreadsheet, which includes open children’s cases.

There are currently 30,254 open children’s cases. This is 2,650 fewer children's cases (-8.1%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 48,741 children, which is 4,722 (-8.8%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.  

Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to the end of the previous financial year. Cafcass had 11,875 open public law children's cases at the end of March 2024, involving 21,046 children. This is 1,179 (-9.0%) fewer children's cases and 2,219 (-9.5%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.  

Cafcass had 18,379 open private law children's cases at the end of March 2024, involving 27,695 children. This is 1,471 (-7.4%) fewer children's cases and 2,503 (-8.3%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.