Our data
Trends over time
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.
1 April 2024 – 30 September 2024
Headline findings
In September 2024 Cafcass received 4,671 new children's cases (7,045 children)
The average daily demand level in September 2024 was 222 children's cases per working day compared to 201 children's cases received per working day during September 2023
At the end of September 2024 Cafcass had 28,050 open outstanding children's cases; this is -8.8% / -2,702 children's cases compared to September 2023 (30,752). There are currently 45,445 children on open children's cases.
For the financial year to date (April 2024 - 30 September 2024), the main changes are:
An increase in total case demand (+1.7% / +474 children's cases compared to the same period last year)
An increase in public law children's cases (+1.7% / +132 children's cases)
An increase in private law children's cases (+1.8% / +342 children's cases)
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 30 September 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024, Cafcass received 8,109 new public law children’s cases, involving 12,785 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 30 September 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024, Cafcass received 5,642 new S31 Care Applications, involving 9,188 children.
S31 care applications have increased by +0.3% (+19 applications) compared to the same period last year and represents a decrease of 21 children on total applications received between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024.
Please note that applications include those made on existing children’s cases as well as new public law children’s cases received in the period.
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.
Private law children’s cases (Financial Year: 1 April 2024 – 30 September 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024, Cafcass received 19,657 new private law children’s cases, involving 29,806 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.
Open children’s cases (September 2024 snapshot)
There are currently 28,050 open children’s cases. This is 2,702 fewer children's cases (-8.8%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 45,445 children, which is 4,632 fewer children (-9.2%) compared to the same month last year.
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to September 2023. Cafcass had 11,315 open public law children's cases at the end of September 2024, involving 19,791 children. This is 842 (-6.9%) fewer children's cases and 1,656 (-7.7%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 16,735 open private law children's cases at the end of September 2024, involving 25,654 children. This is 1,860 (-10.0%) fewer children's cases and 2,976 (-10.4%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.