Statistics released by the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass) show that in November last year, when details of the Baby P case first came to light, 592 applications were made, 96 more than the previous month and 53 more than during November 2007.
Figures rose substantially again in December to 716, when criticism of Haringey Council's handling of the case mounted. This was also 294 up on the same month the previous year.
The increase has continued into 2009, with March showing 739 applications, the highest ever recorded for a single month and a 37.9 per cent increase on March 2008's figure.
Cafcass chief executive Anthony Douglas said: "There is no evidence that children are being taken into care needlessly. In fact, it is our view that more children are now being safeguarded who would otherwise be at risk of neglect or harm."
This dramatic increase is especially pronounced coming off the back of a period of decline in care applications. From April to June 2008, Cafcass experienced a 27.5% drop in demand for care cases compared with the same period the previous year.
LGA chairman Cllr Margaret Eaton added: "In recent months, councils have been working extremely hard to make the safety net that protects vulnerable children even more secure."
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