The number of tribunal claims brought against employers has risen by a staggering 56 per cent in the past year, according to new figures released by the Tribunals Service. Across England, Scotland and Wales the 12 months up to end of March 2010, saw 236,100 claims - compared to 151,000 in the same period of the previous year. Claims of unfair dismissal increased to 57,400, while age discrimination claims rose from 3,800 the previous year to 5,200 in the most up-to-date figures. One area that has seen a decrease however, is that of claims surrounding inappropriate consultation around mass redundancies. In the 12 months up to the end of March 2009 there was a total of 11,400 claims, this year the figure had dropped to 7,500, signalling perhaps that the threat of redundancy is also reducing across the country.