New analysis highlights continued high rates of infant care proceedings

While the rate has fallen in recent years, it remains nearly two-thirds higher than it was in 2007/08.

The updated analysis was undertaken as part of the COMFT study, a collaboration involving the Rees Centre, Lancaster University, Swansea University and the University of Lancashire. It builds on the longer-running Born into Care research.

Senior Research Fellow Dr Bachar Alrouh, is first author of the new working paper and led the updated data analysis, working with the wider research team.

Bachar said: “What is striking in the data is not only the persistently high level of care proceedings involving infants, but also how many of these proceedings begin in the first days of life. The findings reinforce the importance of understanding what happens to families before and immediately after birth, and whether they are receiving the support they need at this critical time.”

The analysis found that around 4,900 infants aged under one were subject to care proceedings in 2024/25, with more than half entering proceedings within their first two weeks of life.

The infant rate peaked in 2019/20 and has since declined, but remains substantially higher than at the beginning of the period covered by the research.

The findings provide an updated picture of trends over almost two decades and highlight the continuing need to understand the circumstances and decision-making surrounding care proceedings involving infants and their families.

Read BBC News: Rise in babies in care proceedings raises fears of unnecessary adoptions, experts tell BBC

Listen to BBC Sounds: BBC Sounds programme

Find out more on Lancaster Centre for Child and Family Justice Research: Born into Care: 1 in every 118 infants in England at risk of care proceedings in 2024/25