A National Audit Office report raises concerns about ongoing family court delays in London and the South-East, despite government efforts to speed up proceedings.
As of December 2024, over 4,000 children were involved in cases that had lasted nearly two years or more, with nearly two-thirds of these cases in London and the South-East.
The government introduced a legal time limit in 2014, aiming to resolve most care proceedings within 26 weeks, however the National Audit Office (NAO) report reveals that this target has never been met.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “The government has a range of initiatives to improve family justice services for families and the number of children waiting for court decisions is reducing.
“But many cases still take too long to complete and further action is needed to remove the barriers to a more efficient system, including poor quality data and fragmented decision-making.”
The report highlights the severe impact of delays on children, including “increasing risk of harm, anxiety, instability and disrupted friendships or education.”
London courts averaged 53 weeks to conclude cases, more than double the government’s 26-week statutory time limit set in 2014 to resolve cases started by local authorities.
Sophie Francis-Cansfield, Head of Policy at Women’s Aid, said: “Delays in court proceedings are detrimental to children who have experienced abuse, as they negatively impact their mental wellbeing and hinder their ability to start healing and moving on from the trauma they have endured.
“These cases must be created with the urgency they deserve, so that survivors are able to live in safety and move on with their lives post abuse.”
The report also reveals that the government does not know exactly how much it spends on family justice services.
The NAO estimates the cost at more than £1.8 billion for 2023-24, but complex overlaps with other services make precise figures difficult to determine, with the NAO warning that delays increase costs further.
Between 2018 and 2022, legal aid costs for local authority cases doubled from about £6,000 to £12,000 per case, reflecting the extra time cases take, which has resulted in an annual £314 million increase in legal aid spending.
The report recommends a system-wide assessment to identify the root causes of delays and improve cost transparency to protect vulnerable children and families.
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