The number of Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) orders in the first quarter of 2025 is broadly consistent with previous quarters and remains ‘high’ according to the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO).
The latest numbers have been published in the quarterly family court statistics which show 321 children were subject to DoL from January to March 2025; authorising the holding of children in an unregulated secure placement. It is the same number as October to December 2024 and 10% up on the same time in 2024 when 290 DoL applicatoins we made.
The number of DoLs applications were not published by the Ministry of Justice until July 2023 but research by the NFJO found 2017/18, there were around 100 applications according to Cafcass; with the 1280 chilren subject to a DoL in 2024 representing a seven-fold increase; and a longer term and ‘persistent’ pattern say the NJFO. Since data began to be collected by the MoJ in July 2023, there have been 2,252 applications for DoL orders.
There is, says NJFO, limited information about the children affected. Over half of children (55%) in Q1 were aged between 13-15 years old, 35% were aged between 16 and 18, and 10% were 12 or under; in general there are slightly more female (53%) than male (46%), and the majority are aged between 13-15 (55%) and 90% over the age of 13.
The numbers are ‘high; say the NJFO, who are working with government and agencies to improve outcomes for children.
“This momentum for change is reflected in current legislative reforms. In the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, proposed amendments to Section 25 of the Children Act will provide a statutory framework for allowing children to be deprived of their liberty in ‘relevant accommodation’ other than a secure children’s home.”
And ongoing policy and practice discussions explore better and more collaborative ways for professionals across child and adolescent mental health, children’s services, education and youth justice to deliver ‘integrated and timely care for children, preventing more children from being deprived of their liberty.’
Ultimately, addressing gaps in safe and appropriate care and developing a robust statutory framework that lays out clear criteria for the grounds for deprivation of liberty will reduce the use of DoLs so that they are only used in rare and exceptional circumstances say NFJO.
