Coronavirus York updates; 8th November 2020

Deaths and test results

One further death at the York Hospital Trust announced today. The fatality occurred yesterday and takes the total number of COVID 19 related cases to six during the last week

54 (FIFTY FOUR) new positive test results announced today bringing the total to 4152

The case rate in York is stable and below the regional and national average.

Heslington is no longer the neighbourhood with the highest number of cases. The numbers in the City centre neighbourhood and now higher.

The Westfield/Chapelfields/ Foxwood North neighbourhood has seen a gradual increase in case numbers over the last week or so. It now has above the national average number of infections.

The latest demographic data shows the number of positive test results in the City by age group. It shows that the teen and twenty age groups still have the majority of cases but that their infection rate is declining.

Number of positive test results in York by age group

Government initiatives

Vitamin D

Millions of vulnerable people will be sent supplies of Vitamin D by the Government as evidence grows that it helps in the battle against Covid-19 infection. Care-home residents and people shielding because they suffer from conditions such as cancer will be sent enough supplies of the vitamin to last four months, with the first packages due to arrive early next month.

One recent study found that more than 80 per cent of Covid-19 victims admitted to hospital were Vitamin D deficient, compared with a UK average of 25 per cent.Ministers are hoping that greater uptake of the vitamin, along with more effective drug treatments and a viable vaccine, will combine to remove the need for an endless series of rolling lockdowns.

Food help for children in low income families

The government is to spend about £400m to support poor children and their families in England, following a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford. A winter grant scheme, to be run by councils, will provide support with food and bills, and a holiday food and activities programme is to be expanded.

The move represents a significant climbdown for the government, which had argued Universal Credit was enough.

From the package of support, a £170m ring-fenced fund will be distributed through councils until the end of March, with at least 80% earmarked for help with food and bills. The holiday food and activities programme will be expanded with a £210m investment to cover Easter, summer and Christmas in 2021.

On top of that, there will be a £16m cash boost for the nation’s food banks.

Coronavirus York updates; 7th November 2020

Deaths and test results

Two further deaths at York Hospital Trust announced. Both occurred yesterday (6th)

58 (FIFTY EIGHT) additional positive test results today bring the total numbers of cases to 4098

The incidence rate in York is currently stable with about 55 new cases on average being reported each day,.

For the first time there are no York neighbourhoods in the governments highest rate banding with Heslington having fallen below the 400 (per 100k pop) case threshold for the first time.

The case rate in York overall continues to be below the county, regional and national average.

Coronavirus York updates; 6th Nov. 2020

Deaths and test results

Number of Coronavirus cases in City passes 4000

There have been no additional deaths at York Hospital Trust announced today.

56 (FIFTY SIX) additional positive test results announced today bringing the cumulative total to 4040. The 3000 case milestone was passed on 19th October.

The rate of infection has now stabilised at 56 new cases each day. To put this into figure context the highest new case rate number record during the first wave was 29.1 on 5th May. (There has been a higher testing rate recently).

The infection rate in the City is still below the county, regional and national rate.

Only two wards (Heslington and Strensall) are above the national average infection rate.

All the figures predate the lockdown period which started yesterday. It will be at least a week before the impact of the new restrictions on infection rates can be monitored.

Updated Council briefing

The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 06.11.20. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:

People with Covid Symptoms

• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 2.11.20 there had been 199 total covid triages in the CYC area in the last 7 days. The peak number of triages was 653 in the 7 day period to 20.9.20.

• As at 5.11.20, the Covid Symptom App estimates 677.8 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 5,058 people). The peak rate was 1,116.3 on 31.10.20.

Diagnosed cases (Pillar 1&2 combined)

• As at 5.11.20 York has had 3,984 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 1,892 per 100,000 of population. The rate in York is above the national average (1,697.1) but below the regional average (2,666.9).

• The PHE ‘Exceedance’ rating compares the no. of new cases over a 14 day period with the previous 6 weeks and provides a RAG rating to indicate if the previously observed trend in the no. of new cases is worsening. The latest rating for York (2.11.20) is Green.

• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 28.10.20 to 3.11.20 in York is 178.05 (using data published on Gov.uk on 5.11.20).

• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 25.10.20 to 31.10.20 was 184.2. The national and regional averages at this date were 231.0 and 410.5 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 5.11.20).

• As at 2.11.20, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 only) was 11.8%. The national and regional averages are 11.3% and 17.3% respectively. The number of Pillar 2 tests being carried out in York has fallen by about a quarter in the last week.

• As at 5.11.20 York University reported 66 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.

• As at 4.11.20 York St. John reported 22 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.

Contact Tracing

• Since 28.5.20 a total of 3,418 laboratory confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 2,943 of the cases have been engaged. 10,486 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 6,174 of these have been traced.

Deaths

The two sources about deaths from Covid-19 at LA level are ONS data and local registrar data. They are derived from the same source (civil registration data). ONS data is more comprehensive as it includes deaths of York residents which have occurred and been registered outside York. Local registrar data is useful as it provides a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:

• ONS weekly data: For deaths occurring up to 23rd October 2020 and registered up to 31st October 2020, 176 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (84 in hospital, 78 in care homes, 10 at home and 4 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 83.56 which is lower than the national average of 93.06. The most recent death reported for a York resident occurred in week 43 (17 to 23 October).

• ‘Excess’ deaths (ONS). In week 43 (17 Oct to 23 Oct), 37 deaths occurred for York residents, which is 4 more than the average weekly number for 2014-18. Over the last 22 weeks the total number of deaths in York has been 36 fewer than the average for the equivalent weeks in 2014-18.

• Local Registrar data: In the weekly data received on 2.11.20 (for deaths occurring up to 28.10.20), a cumulative total of 168 deaths of CYC residents where COVID-19 was mentioned (confirmed or suspected) on the death certificate, have been registered. The average age of the people who died was 82.6, with an age range of 53-104. The age profile of those dying in York is slightly older than the national average. 88 of the 168 were male (52.4%), slightly less than the national average (55.2%). 72 people (42.9%) died in nursing /care homes (the national average is 28.6%). In addition 13 people (7.74%) who normally resided in nursing/care homes in the CYC area, died in hospital.

Data on deaths occurring in hospital are shown below. Deaths are initially reported for York NHS Foundation Trust which includes Scarborough Hospital and the further breakdown by site can be delayed. From local registrar data, 55.1% of COVID-19 deaths occurring at York Hospital have been CYC residents. (NB NHS Trusts record deaths following a positive covid-19 test (within 28 days) whereas ONS record deaths where covid-19 in mentioned on the death certificate so the totals are not the same).

• Deaths at York Hospital: As at 5.11.20, 149 deaths (awaiting confirmation of breakdown by hospital site for recent deaths) where the person had tested positive for COVID-19 and were being cared for at York Hospital have been reported. 237 deaths have been reported by the wider York NHS Trust.

Economic support

The Government has announced a series of economic support measures to coincide with the national measures:
• Business premises forced to close in England due to local or national restrictions are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 a month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant.
• For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks;
• For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks;
• For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks.
• £1.1 billion is being given to local authorities, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable us to support businesses more broadly.

The LGA and councils are engaging closely with central government officials on what these business support measures mean for councils, including new burdens payments and what happens with grants previously announced such as the discretionary support for ‘Tier 2’ areas. We will update you on this in future bulletins as we receive further information.
The Government has also announced –
•The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until December with employees receiving 80 per cent of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. The LGA guidance on the scheme has been updated. The Government has confirmed that partially publicly funded bodies may be eligible to access the scheme where their private revenues have been disrupted.
•The Government announced today that support for self-employed people will rise to 80 per cent of trading profits during November.
•Mortgage holidays will also no longer end. The Financial Conduct Authority will announce further information today.

If the new government schemes have missed your business that needs help please email economicgrowth@york.gov.uk

For more information visit https://www.york.gov.uk/BusinessSupport?mc_cid=af5d308e56&mc_eid=b6a0c91609#grant

Extension to furlough

The national furlough scheme has today been extended by The Chancellor until March 2021. The scheme will continue to pay up to 80% of a person’s wage up to £2,500 a month. The scheme will be reviewed in January 2021.

As part of the revised scheme, anyone made redundant after 23 September can be rehired and put back on furlough.

The next self-employed income support grant will also increase from 55% to 80% of average profits – up to £7,500

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-extends-furlough-to-march-and-increases-self-employed-support

Coronavirus York updates; 4th November 2020

Deaths and test results

There have been no additional deaths at the York Hospital Trust announced today.

There have been 43 (FOURTY THREE) additional cases identified today. That is the lowest number for several weeks. It brings the cumulative total to 3925.

The daily case rate seems to be levelling off at an average of about 56 new positive test results each day.

This figure was last seen at the beginning of October.

It is still too high but seems to have been influenced mainly by two neighbourhoods.

They are Strensall, where there has been a spike over recent days, and Heslington where the number of cases remains stubbornly high (currently 45) following a period which saw significant reductions.

17 neighbourhoods are now below the national average infection rate.

The City overall is now below the national, regional and North Yorkshire case rate average.

Regional and neighbourhood comparison trends

York no longer has the highest Coronavirus infection level in the North Yorkshire area.

The latest published figures show the case rate, per 100k population, to be higher in Harrogate, Selby, Hambleton and Craven.

York is the only part of North Yorkshire which is showing a decline in case numbers.

York is also well below the regional average. It’s 190.4 case level compares with the highest, in Doncaster, of 544.4

York is now – marginally- also below the national case rate average.

In the normal course of events, this might have led to calls for a return to Tier 1 restriction levels (which apply elsewhere in North Yorkshire). However, the national lockdown, which starts tomorrow (Thursday), will override any local restrictions.

We continue to be very disappointed by the refusal of the authorities to publish key details of the fight against the virus.

Residents (and taxpayers) should be updated on the features and linkage’s being revealed by the contact tracing teams.

The capacity levels at local hospitals are also a matter of general interest.

The latest neighbourhood figures reveal a continuing downward trend in most areas.

The only substantial increases over the last couple of weeks have been in the City centre and in the Strensall areas.

Coronavirus York updates; 3rd November 2020

Deaths and test results

There have been no additional deaths at either the York Hospital Trust or local care homes.

There were 58 (FIFTY EIGHT) additional test results announced today.

Case number trend still downward but may be levelling.

15 out of 24 neighbourhoods now below national average infection rate levels.

What can stay open from Thursday

The Government has published a list of what can stay open from Thursday in England.

Schools, universities, colleges
Child care facilities
Courts
Food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores and corner shops.
Takeaways
Off licenses and licensed shops selling alcohol (including breweries).
Pharmacies (including non-dispensing pharmacies) and chemists.
Newsagents.
Hardware stores.
Building merchants, and building services.
Petrol stations.
Car repair and MOT services.
Bicycle shops.
Taxi or vehicle hire businesses.
Banks;
Building societies;
Credit unions;
Short term loan providers;
Savings clubs;
Cash points;
Currency exchange offices
Post offices.
Funeral directors.
Laundrettes and dry cleaners.
Dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health.
Veterinary surgeons and pet shops.
Agricultural supplies shop.
Storage and distribution facilities, including delivery drop off or collection points, where the facilities are in the premises of a business which is allowed to stay open to customers.
Car parks.
Public toilets.
Garden centres.
Recycling centre

It will be up to individual businesses to decide whether to remain open.

Live Q&A to discuss resident’s questions about the public health response

The next York Council live Coronavirus Q&A on the council’s Facebook page takes place today (Tuesday 3 November) at 5-6pm.

The panel will be discussing your questions and comments about the city’s response to Coronavirus.

This next question and answer session will discuss your questions, with a special focus on the latest national restrictions and the support that is on offer for businesses across the city.

Residents are invited to watch live on Facebook to hear from:
•   Cllr Darryl Smalley, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure & Communities
•   Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning
•   Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, City of York Council
•   York COVID data, Testing, Outbreak Management
•   Neil Ferris, Corporate Director Economy and Place
•   Carolyn Frank, Development Manager, North Yorkshire Federation of Small Businesses

How can I get involved?
Residents can interact with the session by either submitting questions in advance by emailing them to YourQuestions@york.gov.uk or commenting on the live video on Facebook where leaders will read out questions and respond.* Questions may be answered by theme rather than individually, so that the conversation covers as many topics as possible.

For the latest York updates on service changes, online support and how you can get involved in supporting your community visit www.york.gov.uk/Coronavirus

*Please note: Resident do not need a Facebook account to watch the live video however, they will need their own Facebook account to comment on the video with their questions (alternatively questions can be emailed to YourQuestions@york.gov.uk).

Coronavirus York updates; 2nd Nov 2020

Deaths and test results

There have been no further deaths announced by the York Hospital Trust today

There have been 54 (FIFTY FOUR) additional positive test results announced today. That brings the cumulative total number of cases in the City to 3824.

The case rate per 100k population is now down to 189.45. This is the first time that the infection rate has fallen below 200 since 4th October.

The infection rate is below the regional average and only marginally above the national figure

The neighbourhood figures show that all areas are gradually reducing with the exception now of Huntington and Strensall. The latter has seen a sharp increase during the last week. Only three neighbourhoods are now above the additional average case rate (Heslington, Rawcliffe and Strensall)

11 neighbourhoods have now fallen below the national rate. They include Clifton North which has gone from having one of the highest infection rates last week to having the lowest today.

Coronavirus York updates; 1st November 2020

Deaths and test results

THREE additional York Hospital Trust deaths announced today. That is the largest single day total since the second wave of infections hit the City. Two of the fatalities occurred on Friday and one yesterday (Saturday).

65 (SIXTY FIVE) additional positive test results have been announced today. The cumulative total number of cases in the City is now 3770

The number of infections in the City is continuing to decline. 11 of the 24 neighbourhoods in the City have now fallen below the national average.

There have been some significant changes with Tang Hall, which was the second most affected area as recently as this time last week, now being below the national rate. The case numbers in Heslington continue to fall.

Strensall is now marginally above the national average positive test rate.

**Recent citywide trend plus selected neighbourhoods**

Coronavirus York updates; 31st October 2020

Deaths and test results

ONE further death at the York Hospital Trust was announced today. It occurred on Thursday.

53 (FIFTY THREE) additional positive test results announced today bringing the cumulative total to 3705

Infection rate has fallen to 222.2 (per 100k population). This is below the regional average

There is a continuing downward trend in case numbers. Only 3 neighbourhoods in York are now above the national average – Fulford (case numbers falling), Rawcliffe/Clifton South (rising) and Wigginton (stable).

Recent trends in York overall plus selected neighbourhoods

New lockdown measures in palce from Thursday

These are the new restrictions for England:

Only leave your home for specific reasons – education, work if you cannot work from home, exercise, medical reasons, to escape injury or harm, shop for food and essentials, and provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer
No mixing of households inside homes, except for childcare and other support
No mixing of households outside, except for exercising or visiting a public place with one other person
People who shielded in March do not have to shield again, but clinically vulnerable and over-60s are advised to limit social contacts and follow rules carefully
All pubs, bars and restaurants to close – takeaways and deliveries allowed, but no takeaway alcohol
All non-essential retail to close but supermarkets can still sell non-essential goods – click and collect can continue
Leisure and entertainment venues to close, including gyms
International travel out of the UK banned, except for work
Travel within the UK discouraged, except for work
Work places should stay open where people cannot work from home
Support bubbles remain
Children allowed to move between homes if parents separated
Outdoor exercise and recreation encouraged and is unlimited – only with your household/bubble, on your own or with one other person from a different household (golf is not allowed)
People can sit on park benches and have picnics as long as it is with their household
Services in places of worship banned but private prayer permitted
Funerals allowed with close family members only
Manufacturing and construction to continue
Childcare settings, schools, colleges and universities to remain open
Playgrounds to remain open
Medical appointments to continue as normal
Vets to remain open
Courts to remain open
Job centres to remain open
Professional sports allowed but amateur sports are not
Premier League matches will go ahead
Hotels and hostels to remain open for people travelling for work and limited other reasons

Coronavirus York updates; 30th October 2020

Deaths and test results

No further deaths at York Hospital Trust announced today

63 (SIXTY THREE) additional positive test results announced today. Brings cumulative total to 3652

Continuing downward trend in number of cases. Now below 80 cases per per day per week. Rate per 100k population was down to 257.82 on Tuesday from a peak of 309.58 the previous week.

Half the 24 neighbourhoods in York are now showing week on week reductions in new case levels. Only 3 (Heslington, Rawcliffe/Clifton South and Clifton Without/Skelton) have shown above national average rates of infections during the whole of the last 10 days.

The Woodthorpe/Acomb Park area is showing an increase in case numbers.

Council commentary updated

The York Council has updated its weekly commentary on the pandemic. It can be found on the open data web site. It is reproduced below

People with Covid Symptoms

• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 26.10.20 there had been 273 total covid triages in the CYC area in the last 7 days. The peak number of triages was 653 in the 7 day period to 20.9.20. • As at 28.10.20, the Covid Symptom App estimates 860.1 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 5,095 people). The peak rate was 1,051.7 on 22.10.20

Diagnosed cases (Pillar 1&2 combined)

• As at 29.10.20 York has had 3,589 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 1,704 per 100,000 of population. The rate in York is above the national average (1,454.6) but below the regional average (2,222.4).

• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 21.10.20 to 27.10.20 in York is 213.66 (Using data published on Gov.uk on 29.10.20).

• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 18.10.20 to 24.10.20 was 272.5. The national and regional averages at this date were 225.9 and 390.1 respectively (Using data published on Gov.uk on 29.10.20).

• As at 26.10.20, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 only) was 13.1%. The national and regional averages are 10.2% and 14.8% respectively. The number of Pillar 2 tests being carried out in York is increasing.

• As at 29.10.20 York University reported 117 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.

• As at 28.10.20 York St. John reported 34 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.

Contact Tracing

• Since 28.5.20 a total of 3,020 laboratory confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 2,523 of the cases have been engaged. 9,442 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 5,573 of these have been traced.

Deaths

• ONS weekly data: For deaths occurring up to 16th October 2020 and registered up to 24th October 2020, 175 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (84 in hospital, 78 in care homes, 9 at home and 4 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 83.09 which is lower than the national average of 91.44. The most recent deaths reported for York residents occurred in week 42 (10 to 16 October).

• ‘Excess’ deaths (ONS. In week 42 (10 Oct to 16 Oct), 37 deaths occurred for York residents, which is 8 more than the average weekly number for 2014-18. Over the last 21 weeks the total number of deaths in York has been 44 fewer than the average for the equivalent weeks in 2014-18.

• Local Registrar data: In the weekly data received on 26.10.20 (for deaths occurring up to 21.10.20), a cumulative total of 167 deaths of CYC residents where COVID-19 was mentioned (confirmed or suspected) on the death certificate, have been registered. The average age of the people who died was 82.5, with an age range of 53-104. The age profile of those dying in York is slightly older than the national average. 87 of the 167 were male (52.1%), slightly less than the national average (55.2%). 72 people (43.1%) died in nursing /care homes (the national average is 28.98%). In addition 13 people (7.78%) who normally resided in nursing/care homes in the CYC area, died in hospital.

Data on deaths occurring in hospital are shown below. Deaths are initially reported for York NHS Foundation Trust which includes Scarborough Hospital and the further breakdown by site can be delayed. From local registrar data, 55.2% of COVID-19 deaths occurring at York Hospital have been CYC residents. (NB NHS Trusts record deaths following a positive covid-19 test (within 28 days) whereas ONS record deaths where covid-19 in mentioned on the death certificate so the totals are not the same).

• Deaths at York Hospital: As at 29.10.20, 144 deaths (awaiting confirmation of breakdown by hospital site for recent deaths) where the person had tested positive for COVID-19 and were being cared for at York Hospital have been reported. 230 deaths have been reported by the wider York NHS Trust.

Local tracing success

York’s local contact tracing programme has been running for one week now and data is already showing it has had an immediate impact.

Since launching the service last week, York’s contact tracers have got in touch with 83.7% of residents in the past six days who the national system were unable to reach. More than 100 residents have now been successfully contacted, with low numbers of people uncontactable. On Wednesday 28 October, the local service reached 100% of people that the national system were unable to reach.

The service is currently running Monday to Friday and will soon be running as a seven days a week service, with residents being contacted using a local (01904) phone number.

Text messages will also be sent to people with mobile phones telling them to expect a call. If this is still unsuccessful, then a home visit will be made, and if no-one is at home, a letter with details of how to contact the team will be delivered to those advised to isolate, following Covid-19 guidelines.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council and Chair of the York Outbreak Management Advisory Board said:

Thank you to our public health team who are working alongside the national test and trace system to reach more people who have tested positive quickly, which is vital in our efforts to slow the spread of the virus.

“Our local programme places a real priority on the wellbeing of our residents. We will check if they are ok and offer them support should they need it, whether that be getting food and medicine, or simply talking to someone while they self-isolate. With the national system continuing to face difficulties, we will soon be expanding our local programme to run a 7 day service, in order to reach more residents.”

“We are particularly grateful to all those who are self-isolating or have self-isolated. We know how hard it is, but it is an incredibly important thing to do to keep our friends, family and community safe.”

Fiona Phillips, Assistant Director for Public Health said:

We have really appreciated the support of the public following the launch of this service when we have been in contact with them.

“We would ask people to continue to engage with the service as it really does make a difference in slowing the spread of the virus as the vast majority have so far, which we are very grateful for.

“We know that testing positive for Coronavirus can be a worrying time and we are here to help. Our contact tracers will check you are ok and offer support. After our call, our helpline is there to help those who need it.

“Rapid contact tracing and self-isolation are a key way of stopping the spread of Coronavirus. This is once again a demonstration of a true citywide effort to keep the people we love safe and the places we love open.

Coronavirus York updates; 29th October 2020

Deaths and test results

ONE additional death at the York Hospital Trust was announced today. It occurred on Tuesday.

There were 52 (FIFTY TWO) additional positive test results announced today. That is the smallest increase for 2 weeks. The total number of cases is now 3589

By Sunday the rate per 100k population had fallen to 257.35. That is the smallest rate since 7th October.

Overall the number of cases in the City is now falling with more neighbourhoods now below national infection levels.

There maybe some cautious room for optimism

Those hoping for a return to Tier 1 status may have to wait for a while. York still has the highest infection rate in North Yorkshire albeit it is falling while some other areas are seeing an increase.

Around 1000 tests are being carried out each day in York. Positivity rates are steady at around 1 in 5.

The authorities are now publishing details of the age groups of York people testing positive for COVID. The highest number of cases continues to be concentrated in the 10 – 29 age range.

Positive test results by age group in York

COVID impact on local crime levels

According to North Yorkshire Police the Office of National Statistics (ONS) quarterly crime report begins to reveal the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on crime in the county.

Read the ONS report here

North Yorkshire Police’s crime reporting shows a level of consistency in crimes recorded year on year, although there are a number of notable changes through the months of March to June 2020.

Burglary, theft, vehicle crime and criminal damage a marked decrease which can be attributed to the national lockdown imposed on 23 March. Whilst violent crime showed a minor increase year on year thought to be a result of a change in reporting – this also experienced a decrease through the months of April and May, another change likely to be as a result of the lockdown.

In line with this, the number of sexual crimes recorded have decreased but reporting rates have not fallen at the same pace which positively indicates that victims still have the confidence to come forward and report incidents.

Levels of reported domestic abuse have continued to rise year on year, an increase which can partly be attributed to the requirement to record multiple crimes where stalking and/or harassment has occurred, rather than simply one crime per incident. Partner agencies, charities and other organisations which support domestic abuse victims have reported a rise in demand for their services over the last few months and Detective Superintendent, Allan Harder, explains more:

“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.

“That said there was clearly a need for information and advice to be shared as widely as possible so along with our partners we have been working hard to address this. As well as signposting victims to the wealth of support available, we have created videos discussing a range of topics and continue to send a strong message that the police are very much still here to help and do whatever we can to safeguard anyone experiencing domestic abuse.”

Incidents of fraud recorded have continued to rise over the last three years, an increase which can be attributed to both changes in the way it is reported and work to address the fact it is one of the most underreported crimes. Head of North Yorkshire Police Economic Crime Unit, Detective Inspector Jon Hodgeon explains:

“Victims often do not report fraud as they may feel embarrassed to have been scammed or may think there’s no chance of getting back money they have lost but even if there are no lines of enquiry, we want to help ensure that individual does not become a victim again. To be able to provide victims support and prevention advice, we encourage victims to report fraud directly to North Yorkshire Police, rather than Action Fraud, so we can provide this support and prevention advice.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has put a stop to our regular face-to-face fraud prevention presentations and workshops so we’ve had to find new ways to reach people with prevention messages, including regular Facebook Live sessions and other virtual events which have been very well-received. We’ve also seen a number of new scams emerge with the pandemic providing the perfect cover for many fraudsters and old scams coming back into the fore so we’ve worked hard to keep North Yorkshire residents as up to date as possible.”

North Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable, Mark Pannone, said:

“It is clear to see the impact of Covid-19 and the national lockdown on these latest figures and whilst this has meant some reduction in crime, we must not be complacent. We may be seeing less of some types of crime but we know the need for community support and helping individuals to feel safe is more important than ever before.

“We have moved some of our prevention and safeguarding support to online channels and I can reassure our communities that we are still very much here for you. We know this is a really difficult time for our communities and we are adapting to the challenges presented by the pande

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