Found: Police issue urgent plea to find missing murderer with local links

Update: Police arrested William Kerr last night in Hull. Officers will now return him to prison. North Yorkshire Police thanked everyone who shared the appeal to find him.

Police have urged people in the Harrogate district to report any sightings of a missing murderer who has been recalled to prison.

William Kerr, 59, was convicted of murder in 1998 after strangling Maureen Comfort, 49, in Leeds. He was released from prison on licence in August last year.

However, his licence has since been revoked and he has been recalled to prison for failing to attend appointments with his probation supervising officer, failing to live at an approved address and displaying poor behaviour.

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North Yorkshire Police said in a statement Kerr has connections across Yorkshire.

It said:

“North Yorkshire Police are urging members of the public to get in touch as a matter of urgency if they see him, or know where he is. To provide information, dial 101 – for an immediate sighting, dial 999.

“Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote reference number 12210137101 when passing information.”

Kerr was arrested in 2017 after absconding from HMP Hollesley Bay, near Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Another 21 covid cases in Harrogate district

Another 21 cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.

According to Public Health England figures, it takes the total cases confirmed since the start of the pandemic to 7,991.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital. The last death was recorded on April 11.

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There are currently no covid patients being treated at the hospital, according to latest Public Health England statistics.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate currently stands at 61 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 56 and the England rate is 83.

Another 19 covid cases reported in Harrogate district

Another 19 cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total cases since last March to 7,970.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital. The last death was recorded on April 11.

There are currently no covid patients being treated at the hospital, according to latest Public Health England statistics.

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Meanwhile, the total number of vaccinations given in the district has reached 205,231.

According to latest government figures, 111,517 people have had a first dose of a covid vaccine and 93,714 have had a second dose so far.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate currently stands at 63 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 52 and the England rate is 81.

Harrogate social care a ‘ticking time bomb’, care boss warns

There are warnings social care in Harrogate is facing a “ticking time bomb” as costs for families soar above £1,000 a week and industry leaders call for swifter government action to bring about major reforms.

After years of promises to fix the system, the government is coming under renewed pressure for failing to establish a firm plan to tackle the sector’s funding crisis which experts believe is a major reason for the UK suffering Europe’s worst covid death toll.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will bring forward a 10-year plan later this year but, in the meantime, families across the country are feeling the financial and emotional fallout from a sector under strain.

In North Yorkshire, the Harrogate district is the most expensive area to get care for loved ones with the average weekly cost of residential care this year reaching £1,055 and the same figure for nursing climbing to £1,061.

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Over a one-year period, these costs equate to more than £55,000.

While there are no legal limits on costs, North Yorkshire County Council does set an approved rate of £599 and £592 for residential and nursing respectively – and 90% of care providers in the Harrogate district currently exceed this.

These climbing costs driven by an inflated market are why Ross Kneller, director of St Margaret’s Home Care, believes social care is facing a “ticking time bomb” with worrying consequences for elderly and vulnerable residents who rely on the system.

He said his company – which provides 24/7 care services in Harrogate, York and Selby – is up against a wave of big businesses looking to cash in on these high prices by using less qualified and less skilled staff.

Mr Kneller said:

“There is a real feeling in the industry that we are at the cusp of a devastating wave that is about to crush the lives of thousands of vulnerable people.

“The domiciliary homecare market is an ever-growing giant of an industry. The nation is living longer, and they all want to stay at home for as long as possible.

“This booming industry is naturally attracting a host of new domiciliary care agencies all looking to take a share of the market.

“The private market is the preferred target for profit seekers. The private market pays the highest rates and is therefore the preferred choice for any venture looking to reap maximum profits from the industry.

“What about the majority of elderly, and vulnerable, across the country who rely on social services to provide them with quality care? They are being forgotten and will very soon suffer for the lack of care on offer to them.

“Thankfully there are many providers who still see the industry as a vocation led business, as well as a means to making profit.

“Unless the government helps agencies there will come a time when only the wealthy will receive the care they need as they grow older or become ill.”

After years of government cuts, local authorities including North Yorkshire County Council are under massive financial pressure, and in turn, care homes who they fund have been cash-strapped too.

Meanwhile, and in the midst of the pandemic, government plans to address an imbalance in the system have been blown out of the water.

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A cap on the costs of social care, a specific tax to help find the extra billions needed in funding and directing more cash straight to care homes are all ideas which have previously been brought to table.

But until the government eventually brings forward its exact proposals to reform the system, many struggling families will have to wait longer and dig deeper into their pockets.

How is social care funded?

Under current rules, those needing social care must fund it themselves down to their last £23,250, and only then will the local authority step in.

In the Harrogate district, it is North Yorkshire County Council which carries out assessments to determine how much support people should get.

Richard Webb, the council’s director of health and adult services, said around 70% of people using care services in the district fund it themselves.

He also said the authority had taken action on the climbing costs by carrying out a Covid-delayed actual cost of care exercise, as well as purchasing a £1.8m plot of land at Harrogate’s Cardale Park to build an extra care facility.

Mr Webb added there was also the potential for the council to buy other sites for more care facilities across the county as it looks to intervene in the market.

He said: 

“The rising costs make the purchase of care more expensive for the Council and individuals who are contributing to the cost of their care.

“The council is considering a range of options in the care market with a view to supporting providers and ensuring sustainable costs can be achieved in the medium to long term.

“The consequence of an inflated care market is ultimately that people will pay more and their resources will be used more on the costs of care. When those resources deplete then the cost burden shifts to taxpayers via council funded care provision.”

What is the picture across the UK? 

Unlike health care, social care is not generally provided for free in England.

In Scotland, free personal care is already available, while home care is free for the over 75s in Northern Ireland, and some care costs are capped in Wales too.

A personal cap on care costs in England was reportedly being considered by ministers prior to the coronavirus outbreak and is an idea which was first raised during talks with Sir Andrew Dilnot, the former UK statistics chief, whose proposals were previously abandoned in 2017.

Harrogate district covid infections hit four-month high

The Harrogate district has recorded the highest daily number of covid infections for four months.

Today’s 29 cases is the highest since February 17 when 31 infections were recorded, according to Public Health England statistics.

But no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital since April 11.

According to NHS England statistics, the death toll at the hospital remains at 179.

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Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate is marginally up to 59 cases per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 45 and the England average is 75.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Delta variant is now the dominant strain of coronavirus in North Yorkshire and most cases are among under 30-year-olds.

Louise Wallace told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum briefing today that the variant – which was first identified in India and has delayed the final lifting of lockdown restrictions – was accelerating in most parts of the county at a rate of around 40 new cases per day.

She added the strain appeared to be spreading fastest amongst young people, who she  urged to take vaccines. Jabs are now available to over 21-year-olds.

Ms Wallace said:

“The Delta variant does appear – as is the case nationally – to be the dominant strain of covid across North Yorkshire.

“In light of that, it is really important that given the variant is more transmissible we don’t let our guard down.”

Harrogate district covid rate creeps up again

The Harrogate district seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 58 cases per 100,000 — up from 52 yesterday.

The latest figure is above the North Yorkshire rate of 45 but below the figure for England of 74.

Ten more infections in the district were confirmed today by Public Health England.

The district’s worst affected area is Ousebourn, Hammerton and Tockwith, which has recorded 11 infections in the last seven days. Bilton is next, with nine.

Tadcaster, which has recorded 12, has had the most cases in the whole of North Yorkshire.

However, another day has passed without any deaths at Harrogate District Hospital.

Seventy-eight per cent of adults in the district have received first vaccines; 65 per cent have had second jabs.

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Harrogate district unemployment falls by 10%

The number of people on out-of-work benefits in the Harrogate district fell by over 350 in May, a decrease of 10% on the previous month.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 3,185 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of May 13 — down from 3,545 in April.

This accounts for 3.4% of the local population, which is below the UK average of 6%.

From May 17, indoor hospitality venues such as bars and restaurants were able to reopen with social distancing measures in place.

David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Any drop in the number of people unemployed has to be welcomed. However, I do fear that when furlough comes to an end the figure could well creep up again.”

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Financial support for those out of work includes Universal Credit and Job Seekers’ Allowance.

Figures in the district have remained stable throughout the pandemic, which suggests the government furlough scheme has protected many staff from redundancy.

Roadmap delay pushes back return of Harrogate district Parkruns

The delayed ending of coronavirus restrictions has forced organisers of Parkrun in the Harrogate district to push back its return by a month.

It has been a difficult few months for the organisers, who have tentatively scheduled the return of the free, weekly 5 km runs time and time again, only to then have to disappoint runners.

Outdoor events are permitted under the current government rules. However, many of the landowners that host the runs have granted permission for them to take place on the condition that all lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Now the government has delayed the roadmap easing until July 19, Parkrun is looking to return on July 24.

There are three Parkruns in the Harrogate district: on the Stray in Harrogate, Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and Fountains Abbey, near Ripon.

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A spokesperson for Parkrun said today:

“A huge amount of work has been done in recent weeks to ensure we have permission to return from the large majority of landowners.

“While this delay is disappointing, we respect the fact that a significant number of these permissions were contingent on the country moving into Step 4.

“We will therefore target a new reopening date of July 24.”

Thirteen more covid cases in Harrogate district

A further 13 cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of infections since last March to 7,912.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital.

The last covid-related death reported at the hospital was on April 11, according to NHS England statistics.

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It means the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic remains at 179.

The hospital’s latest information on covid admissions, published on Thursday, revealed there were no current covid patients.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection stands at 52 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 41 and the England rate is 70.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 covid vaccinations have been given in the district.

Data from Public Health England shows a total of 203,228 first and second vaccinations have been given in the district so far.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is today expected to announce a delay in lifting restrictions on June 21 for four weeks.

Ripon beautician praying for PM to save weddings

Hairdressers and brides-to-be in the Harrogate district will have their fingers tightly crossed this evening.

Social distancing restrictions were due to end on June 21 but now it seems the 30-person cap on wedding guests could be extended for another four weeks, throwing numerous wedding plans in jeopardy.

Some people have already put back their weddings as many as four times because of the coronavirus crisis.

Now they are relying on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, not to ruin their big days yet again.

Deborah Chalmers, of Love Hair & Beauty in Ripon, told the Stray Ferret:

“Three quarters of the bookings I have are for weddings with more than 100 guests.

“With the government’s roadmap to June 21 and the anticipated lifting of covid social distancing requirements, people were counting on finally getting married.

“They thought they were safe to book a post-June 21 date and everything that goes with it.

“Now there is another big question mark and we are all hoping and praying that a way can be found to allow weddings with more than 30 attendees to go ahead.”

Brides-to-be across the Harrogate district will be listening carefully to this evening’s announcement from Boris Johnson.

Later this year, Ms Chalmers celebrates her 10th anniversary of being in business in Ripon.

Over the decade she has prepared hundreds of brides and their bridesmaids for weddings.

She said:

“You can be in a restaurant with 100 people that you don’t know, or at a sporting event with thousands, so surely the Prime Minister can come up with something.

“I fully understand that there is a need to keep everybody safe, but perhaps we would be OK if there was covid testing available for all attending a wedding and those, like myself, providing services on the day.

“It will be desperate if weddings for some are put off for the fifth time, or if the limit on attendance remains at 30 and they have to un-invite family members and friends if they decide to go ahead with their ceremony.”

For Ms Chalmers and other businesses in the wedding sector, it has been a tough 16 months.

She has managed to keep ticking over by providing hair and beauty treatments for smaller weddings.

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Fortunately, customers forced to postpone have stayed loyal when rearranging for different dates.

She said:

“For some, the wedding has been a long time coming, but we stay optimistic in the knowledge that the brides will eventually, have their big day.”