Looking at annual trends, there were 15,603 public law cases started in 2023, down 5% from 16,384 in 2022. The levels are roughly the same as a decade earlier but 18% below the peak of around 19,000 seen between 2016-18.
The decline in cases seen since the turn of the decade has been mirrored in the number of applications made (-22%), orders applied for (-18%) and orders made (-7%), although the 26,946 orders issued in 2023 was the highest since the 27,284 in 2019.
The 15,603 cases starting in 2023 involved 25,672 children, the lowest level for 13 years.
Applications were down 6% from 2022, when there were 15,707 in total.
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