The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is backing a legal challenge mounted by four local authorities which claim the government’s decision to force councils to bear the full cost of child care cases is unlawful, the Gazette can reveal.

Since May, local authorities have had to pay for child care proceedings as part of the government’s drive to make the courts self-funding through fees. The move has resulted in a 2,500% increase in court fees, with care cases now costing £4,825, compared with £150 beforehand.

Barbara Esam, a lawyer in the NSPCC’s public policy department, said: ‘We are concerned that vulnerable children won’t be protected properly because the increase means local authorities won’t all have sufficient funds to take on the number of child proceedings they need to.’

The Law Society is also supporting the legal challenge.

A Ministry of Justice spokes­man said the new fees would not put children at risk.

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