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 November 2024
Headline findings
In November 2024 Cafcass received 4,573 new children's cases (6,875 children)
The average daily demand level in November 2024 was 218 children's cases per working day compared to 219 children's cases received per working day during November 2023
There were 27,933 open outstanding children’s cases at the end of November 2024, this is -7.3% / -2,215 children’s cases compared to the same time last year.
For the financial year to date (April 2024 - 30 November 2024), the main changes are:
An increase in total case demand (+0.6% / +229 children's cases / -168 children compared to the same period last year)
An increase in public law children's cases (+2.3% / +242 children's cases / +33 children)
A decrease in private law children's cases (-0.0% / -13 children's cases / -201 children)
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 30 November 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 2024, Cafcass received 10,950 new public law children’s cases, involving 17,301 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 30 November 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 2024, Cafcass received 7,658 new S31 Care Applications, involving 12,503 children.
S31 care applications have increased by +0.7% (+53 applications) compared to the same period last year but with fewer children involved in those applications (-46 children) received between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 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 November 2024)
Between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 2024, Cafcass received 26,346 new private law children’s cases, involving 40,028 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 (November 2024 snapshot)
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to November 2023. There are currently 27,933 open children’s cases. This is 2,215 fewer children's cases (-7.3%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 45,158 children, which is 3,490 fewer children (-7.2%) compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 11,337 open public law children's cases at the end of November 2024, involving 19,764 children. This is 542 (-4.6%) fewer children's cases and 1,181 (-5.6%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 16,596 open private law children's cases at the end of November 2024, involving 25,394 children. This is 1,673 (-9.2%) fewer children's cases and 2,309 (-8.3%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.