Cafcass figures hint at moderate fall in number of care applications

The number of care applications received by Cafcass in the first half of 2013/14 fell compared to the previous year, it has emerged.

There were 5,278 applications between April and September 2013, the court advisory service reported.

This is down 2% on the 5,410 applications between April and September 2012 and a 7% decrease on the 5,689 applications between October 2012 and March 2013.

Cafcass said it had received 830 applications last month, the second lowest figure this year and a 6% fall on the 879 received in the same month last year.

The number of care applications for the last four years is as follows:

• 2012/13: 11,099
• 2011/12: 10,254
• 2010/11: 9,203
• 2009/10: 8,832

The highest ever number of care applications for a single month was recorded in February 2013, with 1,0002.