Unemployment rises across Harrogate districtHarrogate district population grows at half the national averageThe Harrogate district population has increased by almost 5,000 people since 2011, the latest census has revealed.
The government’s census survey, which happens every 10 years, gives a snapshot of the population at that time and is used to inform local and national government policy.
Census day was in March last year and the Office for National Statistics has collated the data and published the first set of results.
It reveals the Harrogate district population has increased by 3.1%, from 157,900 in 2011 to 162,700 in 2021.
This is lower than the overall increase for England (6.6%), where the population grew by nearly 3.5 million to 56,489,800.
Nearby areas like Selby and Leeds have seen their populations increase by 10.2% and 8.1%, respectively, while others such as Hambleton saw a smaller increase (1.8%) and Richmondshire saw a decrease of 4.4%.
The increase in population in the Harrogate district is lower than some may have expected considering the number of new homes built in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.
However many of the largest housing schemes included in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan, such as 3,000 homes near Green Hammerton and a combined 1,500 homes on Otley Road in Harrogate, are yet to be built.
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The data also reveals that in the Harrogate district, 83,000 people are female and 79,700 are male.
A total of 34,000 people in the district are over the age of 65, which makes up over 20% of the total population.
Statistics on ethnicity, language and religion will be released later this year.
The Office for National Statistics’ deputy national statistician Pete Benton said:
“Today’s census statistics begin to paint a rich and detailed snapshot of the nation and how we were living during the pandemic. They show the population of England and Wales continued to grow across the decade, albeit at different rates across the regions.
“Ultimately, the full suite of census results, based on the information we all gave, will ensure decisions about how the billions of pounds we spend each year as a nation are made using the best possible evidence.
“This includes planning our emergency services, mental health care, school places, hospital beds, houses, roads, buses, trains, trams, GPs and dentists’ services.”
Harrogate district unemployment figures remain lowJust 2.2% of all adults in the Harrogate district are claiming out-of-work benefits, latest figures show.
Monthly figures published today by the Office for National Statistics show 1,755 people were claiming the benefits on May 12, which was similar to April’s figure of 1,779.
The figures appear to have stabilised after falling by around 150 people a month since the start of the year.
However, they are still above pre-pandemic levels. In January 2020, 1,410 people claimed the benefits that includes Universal Credit.
Universal Credit can also be claimed by people who are in work but on low incomes.
Many of the district’s key sectors including hospitality and social care have reported difficulties hiring staff since the end of covid restrictions.
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Harrogate district unemployment continues to fallThe number of people receiving out-of-work benefits in the Harrogate district has fallen again.
Latest monthly figures by the Office for National Statistics show 2,080 people were claiming the benefits on February 10, falling by 55 from January’s figure of 2,135.
The figure, however, remains considerably above pre-pandemic levels. In January 2020, 1,410 people claimed the benefits, which includes Universal Credit.
Universal Credit can also be claimed by people who are in work but on low incomes.
Across the UK, 4.3% of all adults are claiming the benefits. In the Harrogate district, it is 2.3%.
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In a boost for jobs in the district, a 600,000 square feet business park approved was approved last week by Harrogate Borough Council.
The business park will be called ‘Harrogate 47’ because it will be built at Flaxby close to junction 47 of the A1 (M). The developer Opus North believes it could support 2,000 jobs.
It is allocated as the main strategic employment site in the council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which identifies where development can take place.
Harrogate district unemployment falls againThe number of people receiving out-of-work benefits in the Harrogate district has continued to fall.
Latest monthly figures by the Office for National Statistics show 2,145 people were claiming the benefits on December 9, falling by 80 from November’s figure of 2,225.
The figure, however, remains considerably above pre-pandemic levels. In January 2020, 1,410 people claimed the benefits, which includes Universal Credit.
Universal Credit can also be claimed by people who are in work but on low incomes.
The furlough scheme ended on September 30 and supported around 28,600 jobs in the Harrogate district for 18 months.
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Meanwhile, this month Harrogate College announced it will be offering free haircuts and manicures to jobseekers.
The college, at Hornbeam Park, is providing the treatments to anyone who has secured a job interview.
Haircuts can be booked now between 3pm and 7pm on Wednesdays. Manicures will be available on Thursdays, starting on January 27, from 10am.
Students will provide the services at the college’s professional standard training salons.
Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College, said he hoped the initiative would boost the participants’ job prospects.
Pateley Bridge census support could save you £1,000People who have had difficulty filling in the census form need not panic. Help is at hand to save those struggling a potential £1,000 fine.
The census support centre run by Nidderdale Plus in Pateley Bridge can provide assistance to anybody living in the Harrogate district.
It is based in the Nidderdale Plus community hub in Station Square, King Street and will be open daily between 10am and 4pm for the rest of this week and on Saturday and bank holiday Monday from 10am until 1pm.
The Census 2021 forms were posted to millions of households in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Helen Flynn, executive director of Nidderdale Plus, told the Stray Ferret:
“The census support centre, with its specially-trained advisors Sandra Walker and Heather Blundell, has been very busy since census day on March 21.
“We are proud to be the fourth highest performing census support centre in the north-east, North Yorkshire and Cumbria region so we have been punching above our weight, as we have been helping people.
“Completing and submitting the census form is a legal requirement and failure to do it could result in a fine of £1,000.”
People can walk in to the hub to get help with filling in their form.
Alternatively, they can call 01423 714953 for help and advice over the phone.
Filling in the form, which takes about 10 minutes, can be done on paper, smartphone, tablet or computer.
For those unfamiliar with technology, assistance can be provided with filling out the form online and submitting it.
The census helps local and national government to obtain a snapshot of the entire population at one point in time.
This helps in future planning for services such as healthcare, education and transport.
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Census facts and figures
This year marks the 22nd census.
The first census was held in Great Britain in March 1801.
It recorded the combined population of England, Wales and Scotland at 10.9 million, living in 1.8 million houses.
It has been held every 10 years, except for 1941, when it did not take place because of World War II.
By the 2011 Census, the UK population – which also includes Northern Ireland – had grown to 63 million, of which 32 million were female and 31 million were male.
Census Support Centre open in Pateley Bridge todayIt’s Census Day and Nidderdale Plus in Pateley Bridge will be open today to provide help and advice.
Filling in the form, which takes around ten minutes, can be done on paper, smartphone, tablet or computer.
It is a legal requirement.
The census helps local and national government to obtain a snapshot of the entire population at one point in time.
This helps in future planning for services such as healthcare, education and transport.
Assistance is being provided to those people who have queries about filling in the form, those who do not have a computer or are not confident about going online.
This is through Census Support Centres across the UK and Nidderdale Plus Community Hub is the centre selected for the Harrogate district..
Based in Station Square, King Street, it will be open from 10am until 1pm and will be observing social distancing requirements for people wanting to drop by.
Millions of households across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, received the letter calling for information for the 2021 Census
Some people who already knew who would be in their household today, completed their forms in advance.
Nidderdale Plus executive director, Helen Flynn, said:
“Advice can be provided at the door, or an appointment to visit the centre can be booked by calling 01423 714953.”
Census support advisers Sandra Walker and Heather Blundell, have been trained by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to deliver this service in a Covid-safe and confidential way.
They can provide help face to face or over the phone.
Mrs Flynn, pointed out:
“We have already helped lots of people from Nidderdale and Harrogate to fill in their form.
“We are very proud to be the only Census Support Centre operating in Harrogate district, playing a role in this important information gathering process.”
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Census facts and figures
This year marks the 22nd Census.
It has been held every ten years, except for 1941, when it did not take place because of World War II.
The first Census was held in Great Britain in March 1801.
It recorded the combined population of England, Wales and Scotland at 10.9 million, living in 1.8 million houses.
By the 2011 Census, the UK population – which also includes Northern Ireland – had grown to 63 million, of which 32 million were female and 31 million were male.
The census in Scotland has been held up by the covid pandemic and will take place next year.
Twelve new covid cases confirmed in Harrogate districtA further 12 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Harrogate district in today’s data from the Office for National Statistics.
It brings the total number of confirmed cases in the district to 7,366 since the pandemic began last year.
Meanwhile, the seven-day infection rate for the district remains at 59.7 cases per 100,000 people, having dropped this week to the lowest it has been since September.
It is above the average for North Yorkshire, which is 47.2. Only Richmondshire has a higher rate, at 63.3, with all other districts in the county having a lower rate.
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At Harrogate District Hospital, no further deaths have been reported in patients who tested positive for coronavirus. The total number of people who have died at the hospital since the beginning of the pandemic remains 165.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust confirmed this week it had 42 in-patients who had tested positive for covid, a drop of three from the previous week. It had discharged 20 patients in the same time period, bringing the total number treated and discharged to 554.
The number of vaccinations administered in the district has risen this week to almost 60,000, according to data from the NHS. Across the UK, people aged 56 and above are now being invited to book appointments for the first dose of their vaccines.
Rise in fraud and stalking reports as North Yorkshire crime rates fallCrime across North Yorkshire fell by 9% in the year to September 2020, according to the latest data.
Using statistics for crimes reported to police forces across the country, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 42,879 crimes were reported in the county up to September 2020, compared to 47,368 up to September 2019.
Among the most significant falls were burglary, which fell by 30%, theft from person, which dropped by 49%, and shoplifting, which dropped by 28%. Reports of sexual offences also declined by 16%.
However, there were increases in the number of violent crimes reported, with stalking and harassment increasing by 19% year on year. Fraud and crimes relating to computer misuse rose by 32% compared to the previous year.
Drug offences rose by 13%, there was an 18% rise in reports of possession of offensive weapons, and an increase of 12% in public order offences.
North Yorkshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain said:
“We believe stalking and harassment offences have continued to rise due to the fact victims have increased confidence in reporting it. The increase can also be attributed to the requirement to record multiple crimes where stalking and/or harassment has occurred, rather than simply one crime per incident.
“With drugs offences, the rise reflects our pro-active approach to dealing with drugs issues such as county lines. This issue causes a disproportionate amount of harm to local communities and increases the fear of crime – this is why county lines continues to remain a priority.
“My thanks go to the public for providing the community intelligence which enables this pro-active work to be carried out. This intelligence is key to us achieving these results.”
He said while the first lockdown had reduced many areas of crime, there was a significant rise in people being stopped by officers at some of the county’s beauty spots last summer. Taking increased enforcement action led to the number of public order offences being higher than the previous year.
Low crime rate
North Yorkshire remains one of the lowest-crime areas in the country, according to the new statistics, falling sixth behind of Cumbria, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dyfed-Powys. Taking into account population size, the crime rate for North Yorkshire is the lowest in England and Wales.
The county showed the lowest crime statistics for the whole of Yorkshire in almost every area. However, the number of bicycle thefts was higher than South Yorkshire in the year to September 2020, and the rate of cycle thefts when factoring in population size was higher than both South and West Yorkshire.
The rate of fraud and computer crime offences in the county was also higher than in any other area of Yorkshire when taking into account population size.
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Nationally, the latest statistics show overall crime has fallen in England and Wales compared to the previous year. Helen Ross from the Office for National Statistics Centre for Crime and Justice said:
“The coronavirus pandemic and related lockdown restrictions have resulted in fluctuations in the level of crime experienced in England and Wales. Data from the survey showed decreases in crime at the start of the pandemic, with rises seen over the summer months, specifically in theft, following the easing of lockdown measures, with overall crime now back at pre-lockdown levels of January to March 2020.”
Mr Cain added:
“The landscape of policing will endure change as we respond to the pandemic, however we will continue to place victims at the centre of everything we do.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank our committed workforce who do their very best every day to keep our communities safe. Equally I want to thank the public of North Yorkshire and the City of York for their support during this incredibly challenging time for us all.”
Domestic abuse rises in North YorkshireDomestic abuse has risen sharply in North Yorkshire — but police say this is mainly due to changes in methods of reporting.
Incidents of domestic abuse increased by 26 per cent in 2018/19 and by three per cent in 2019/20, according to latest crime statistics published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday.
But Detective Superintendent Allan Harder, of North Yorkshire Police, said this was largely down to the requirement to record multiple crimes where stalking and/or harassment has occurred, rather than simply one crime per incident. He said:
“Whilst we were hearing of this increased demand from our partners and in the national media, the number of domestic abuse incidents reported to North Yorkshire Police has remained level.
“Although victims have been seeking additional support, this is not associated with a significant rise in reported incidents.”
Fraud, which is one of North Yorkshire Police’s key priorities, has risen by 700 per cent since January 2019 but the force attributed this to people now reporting incidents directly to it rather than the agency Action Fraud.
A police spokesman said:
“Numbers of fraud incidents we are seeing each month since that time are staying fairly consistent.”
Just six murders occurred in North Yorkshire in the year ending June 2020. Only Bedfordshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and North Wales had fewer.
Burglary, theft, vehicle crime and criminal damage showed marked decreases, mainly due to the impact of the national lockdown on March 23.
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