Rising use of deprivation of liberty orders highlights gaps in children’s care system

New figures show a continued rise in the number of children subject to deprivation of liberty (DoL) applications, with concerns growing across the sector about the lack of suitable placements and fragmented support systems driving their use.

Data published by the Ministry of Justice reveals that 1,440 DoL applications were made in 2025—an increase of 12.5% on the 1,280 recorded in 2024, and the highest annual figure since reporting began.

The latest quarterly statistics show that between October and December 2025, 379 children were subject to DoL applications under the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction. This compares with 321 applications during the same period in 2024, continuing a pattern of steady increases across every quarter of the year.

The data indicates that the use of DoL orders has grown significantly in recent years. Figures from Cafcass suggest applications have increased around fourteenfold since 2017/18, when there were approximately 100 cases annually.

Children aged 13 to 15 accounted for around two-thirds of applications in the most recent quarter. While the number of applications involving younger children aged 0 to 12 fell slightly compared to the previous quarter, overall figures for this group remain higher than in 2024, pointing to a broader trend of increasing use among younger age groups.

DoL orders, which allow children to be deprived of their liberty in settings other than registered secure children’s homes, continue to far outnumber applications for secure accommodation.

Between October and December 2025, there were just 68 applications for secure accommodation orders, compared to around 380 DoL applications over the same period. The disparity reflects a longstanding shortage of secure children’s home placements.

Sector leaders warn that the growing reliance on DoL orders is being driven by systemic pressures, including limited suitable accommodation and a lack of coordinated, trauma-informed care.

According to the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, the increase in DoL applications reflects a system struggling to meet the needs of children in complex and high-risk situations.

The organisation points to fragmented services, inter-agency disputes and a focus on short-term risk management as key factors contributing to the trend.

In many cases, children’s needs are being managed across disconnected services, leading to gaps in responsibility and a lack of consistent, long-term planning.

Lisa Harker, Director of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, said there is an urgent need for reform.

“There is an urgent need to reset services for children who are experiencing the greatest vulnerabilities in our society,” she said. “A new ecosystem of care would put children’s long-term well-being at the centre, with children and their families listened to and involved in decisions.”

She added that more joined-up working across health, social care, education, policing and youth justice is essential to ensure children receive coordinated and effective support.

Despite the scale of the increase, the published data provides limited insight into the circumstances of children subject to DoL applications.

It does not include information on the reasons for applications, children’s ethnicity, or their additional needs. There is also no clear picture of how many children may be subject to multiple or repeated orders.

For social workers, the figures underline the growing challenge of supporting children with complex needs in a system where appropriate placements are scarce and decision-making is often shaped by crisis.

The continued rise in DoL applications is likely to intensify debate about whether current arrangements are meeting children’s rights and welfare needs, or simply managing risk in the absence of better alternatives.

With calls for a fundamental rethink of how services are organised, the data adds further weight to concerns that without significant reform, the use of deprivation of liberty orders will continue to grow.