The numbers of children subject to applications to be taken into care climbed to record levels in 2011, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) announced today.

Cafcass received 885 applications last month, the highest number ever received in August since it began collecting data in April 2001, and second only to the 894 applications received in March of this year.

The monthly average to date in 2011 is 814 applications, compared to an average of 754 in 2010, 710 in 2009 and 460 in 2008.

Cafcass chief executive Anthony Douglas said: ‘This data represents children’s lives, and the rise in numbers shows a greater awareness of the life-threatening situations some children live in, day-by-day, with no light on their horizon. Peaking in August just shows that there are no longer quiet times: concerns are continuous.’

He added: ‘Since [the Baby Peter case], many local authorities have lowered the threshold they use for making a court application to remove a child. This marked change has brought its own problems, such as pressures on therapeutic services for these children, and on shortages of viable long-term placements when children cannot go back home.’

Much needed longer term solutions are a matter for all public authorities, he said, as children in care need a range of services, including vital child and adolescent mental health services.

‘For now, our job is to make sure every child whose case is before the family courts receives the best possible service from us and our partner agencies as quickly as possible.’