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 – 31 December 2024
Headline findings
- In December 2024 Cafcass received 4,034 new children's cases (6,192 children).
- The average daily demand level in December 2024 was 237 children's cases per working day compared to 240 children's cases received per working day during December 2023.
- The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of December 2024 is 27,657; this is -6.5% / -1,920 children's cases compared to December 2023. There are currently 44,653 children on open children's cases.
For the financial year to date (April 2024 - 31 December 2024), the main changes are:
An increase in total case demand (+0.9% / +362 children's cases / +18 children compared to the same period last year).
An increase in public law children's cases (+2.1% / +247 children's cases / +10 children).
- An increase in private law children's cases (+0.4% / +115 children's cases / +8 children).
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 31 December 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 31 December 2024, Cafcass received 12,184 new public law children’s cases, involving 19,315 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 31 December 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 31 December 2024, Cafcass received 8,596 new S31 Care Applications, involving 14,072 children.
S31 care applications have increased by +1.2% (+105 applications) compared to the same period last year with an increase in children involved (+60 children) received between 1 April 2024 and 31 December 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 – 31 December 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 31 December 2024, Cafcass received 29,073 new private law children’s cases, involving 44,179 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 (December 2024 snapshot)
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to December 2023. There are currently 27,657 open children’s cases. This is 1,920 fewer children's cases (-6.5%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 44,653 children, which is 2,998 fewer children (-6.3%) compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 11,048 open public law children's cases at the end of December 2024, involving 19,295children. This is 553 (-4.8%) fewer children's cases and 1,205 (-5.9%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 16,609 open private law children's cases at the end of December 2024, involving 25,358 children. This is 1,367 (-7.6%) fewer children's cases and 1,793 (-6.6%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.