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 January 2025
Headline findings
- In January 2025 Cafcass received 4,825 new children's cases (7,224 children)
- The average daily demand level in January 2025 was 219 children's cases per working day compared to 227 children's cases received per working day during January 2024.
- The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of January 2025 stands at 27,542 cases, this is -8.5% / -2,554 children's cases compared to January 2024. There are currently 44,154 children on open children's cases which is -4,567 total children when compared to January 2024.
For the financial year to date (April 2024 - 31 January 2025), the main changes are:
An increase in total case demand (+0.2% / +113 children's cases / - 541 children compared to the same period last year)
An increase in public law children's cases (+2.1% / +272 children's cases / 123 children)
- A decrease in private law children's cases (-0.5% / -159 children's cases / -664 children)
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 31 January 2025)
Between 1 April 2024 and 31 January 2025, Cafcass received 13,517 new public law children’s cases, involving 21,484 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 31 January 2025)
Between 1 April 2024 and 31 January 2025, Cafcass received 9,515 new S31 Care Applications, involving 15,564 children.
S31 care applications have increased by 0.8% (+73 applications) compared to the same period last year with an increase in children involved (+52 children) received between 1 April 2024 and 31 January 2025.
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 January 2025)
Between 1 April 2024 and 31 January 2025, Cafcass received 32,486 new private law children’s cases, involving 49,186 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 (January 2025 snapshot)
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to January 2024. There are currently 27,542 open children’s cases. This is -2,554 fewer children's cases (-8.5%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 44,154 children, which is –4,567 fewer children (-9.4%) compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 11,136 open public law children's cases at the end of January 2025, involving 19,496 children. This is -716 (-6.0%) fewer children's cases and 1,433 (-6.8%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 16,406 open private law children's cases at the end of January 2025, involving 24,658 children. This is -1,838 (-10.1%) fewer children's cases and 3,134 (-11.3%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.