Austerity Measures and Lack of Resources Contribute to Record Numbers of Children in Care

Family courts face high volumes of work as transparency pilot scheme expands across the country.

Record numbers of children are being taken into care in England, with nearly 84,000 in care as of March last year, a situation attributed in part to austerity measures that have left local authorities with fewer resources to help families.
Family courts in England and Wales are dealing with a greater volume of work than both the civil and crown courts, with delays in cases causing uncertainty for many children.
A pilot scheme to increase transparency in the family court system has been expanded to include courts across the country, allowing journalists and legal bloggers to report on cases as they unfold, while protecting the identities of the families involved.
The head of the family courts, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has stated that his 'number one priority' is to shorten the time cases take, and has expressed approval of recent Ministry of Justice proposals to help separating families resolve their differences without going to court.
Despite the expansion of the transparency pilot scheme, the identities of parents and children involved in care proceedings will continue to be protected, and judges in the family courts will retain the right to block or postpone reporting of hearings if needed.