MoJ statistics highlight family court case trends

In England and Wales, the total number stood at 59,908, while divorce was responsible for almost half of all new cases.

10,494 private law cases were also launched, which represents a 13 per cent rise from the same period of 2014.

During the quarter there were 71 applications and 67 orders made for Forced Marriage Protection Orders.

Forced marriage was made illegal in June 2014, but despite the problem being persistent across the UK, some regions have recorded higher figures than others.

According to the latest statistics from West Midlands Police, over 300 people in their region asked for help in order to avoid a forced marriage during the last 12 months, while more than 60 Forced Marriage Protection Orders have been issued by them during the last three years.

To date, only one person in the UK has been sent to prison in the UK for forced marriage offences (in addition to rape and bigamy) – a 34-year-old man from South Wales. One of the main reasons cited as being responsible for the low figure is that many people who are potential victims do not wish to see their family members go to prison.

The MoJ statistics also indicated that, despite an overall rise in number of applications for non-molestation domestic violence remedy orders since 2012, the number of cases has actually been falling since the end of 2014.

At Royds, our experienced family law department are able to advise on all aspects of the divorce process. We will work closely with clients to achieve the best possible outcome. For more information, please visit or contact Patrick Hart.