Care applications at record-breaking levels

Figures released by The Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass) show that there were 774 applications in June, compared to 627 the previous month.

In June last year councils made 368 applications.

Since the Baby P case put a spotlight on child protection procedures last November, the numbers of care applications made by local councils have risen significantly higher than previous years.

In May Cafcass chief executive Anthony Douglas said there was no evidence that children were being taken into care needlessly.

But last month a Cafcass spokesman revealed that the body was in talks with local government organisations about releasing localised breakdown of the figures, and expected to see a "postcode lottery" regarding applications.

Kim Bromley Derry, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, said the increasing numbers of care applications showed that more children are being protected by social workers.

He added: "More children on the books will inevitably see a rise in those taken into care. It is also true that local authorities are more likely to push for care proceedings than prior to Baby P because they are now more confident that courts and the other professionals involved will respond positively to concerns about children's safety and wellbeing."