The family courts system is being placed under increased strain amid delays to cases involving children, says Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division.

In an address to the Association of Lawyers for Children on 2nd July, the senior family judge called for action and for "hard choices to be made" regarding the damage caused to children by delays in cases passing through the courts.

His lecture reflected on delays in child abuse cases since the Baby Peter case and the extension of time to court proceedings when an interpreter is required in cases involving ethnic minority families.

According to a transcript of his address published at Family Law Week, Sir Mark concluded: "It is unrealistic to think that, in the current economic difficulties, the family justice system can escape the scrutiny of government.

"However, unless realistic steps are taken, and, sufficient funding made available to sustain its key elements, the road ahead will be inevitably marked by increasing delays in the disposal of cases, whatever targets may be set for improvement."

A report published by Ofsted today revealed that Haringey Council in north London, which was at the centre of the Baby Peter case – where the 17-month-old toddler, Peter, died with more than 50 injuries after authorities had failed to detect that he was being abused – has made only limited progress in improving its children's social care services.