Public law applications
There were 6,389 children involved in new public law applications, down 4% on a year earlier, while the number of applications decreased by 4%. Care applications made up two-thirds of public law cases. Annual figures show the number of public law applications and children have declined in the past decade.
Resolving cases
While the number of public law orders dispersed (resolved) has fallen slightly in the past decade. The most recent annual figures for disposed cases show there were 22,703 care proceedings cases disposed of in 2021, around 10% more than in 2020. The average disposal time was 40 weeks, a quarter higher than pre-pandemic levels. Less than a quarter of cases were disposed within the 26 weeks target compared with 60% in 2016.
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