Welcome to your daily look at the news in the North East.
Each morning and lunchtime we'll bring you some of the latest news from the North East - from breaking news and top stories to NUFC updates and the cost of living latest.
Today, we bring you news that the North East’s unemployment rate is more than three times worse than official figures suggest, new research claims.
Our Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Holland wrote that a report from Centre for Cities reveals that there are more than 185,000 people across the region who are excluded from the Government’s joblessness statistics because they are classed as ‘economically inactive’.
The Cities Outlook assessment lists the “hidden” unemployment rate in the North East in 2022 as in fact being 18%, compared to the 5.5% jobseeker rate, because the official figure only includes those who are actively looking for jobs – with the research institute warning that an “inactivity crisis is deepening the North-South divide”.
Under this analysis, nine of the 10 urban areas with the highest unemployment rate are in the North of England – with Newcastle ninth, Sunderland third, and Middlesbrough second. Of the ten urban areas with the lowest hidden unemployment rates, eight are in the South.
Centre for Cities said that there was a “clear” North-South divide in the number of people out of work due to long term sickness, but also a “long-term jobs shortage problem” in the North and in Wales. Centre for Cities chief executive Andrew Carter said: “Since the pandemic we have seen lots of headlines alluding to record-low numbers of job seekers but Cities Outlook shows there is actually a jobs shortage, with a significant North-South divide in involuntary inactivity rates.
“With the UK now likely to enter a recession, the Government must address its insufficient action on levelling up so far and act swiftly to create more opportunities that get people back into the North’s labour force.
This will require setting out and implementing an agenda that delivers much-needed investments in skills and public services, while supporting job creation in struggling places.”
Centre for Cities estimates that there are around 185,500 people in the North East who are involuntarily economically inactive – such as those who have left the labour market and stopped looking for jobs because they have been discouraged from doing so, believe there are no good jobs available, or cannot work due to health issues. The number does not include students, retirees, or people looking after family.
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Tyneside graffiti gang including three railway cleaners caused £46,000 of damage to trains
We also brought you news that thousands of pounds of damage was caused to Metros and trains by a graffiti gang - three of whom were employed as cleaners on the rail network.
Our Court Reporter Rob Kennedy wrote that tags were repeatedly sprayed on carriages and rolling stock by the gang, who focused their attention on depots in Heaton and Gosforth but carried out damage as far afield as London and Scotland.
Newcastle Crown Court heard ringleader Adam Smith was involved in the majority of the offences while Jordan Shone, Mark Marshall, Colin Bell and David McGuire were also involving in causing widespread damage. The five all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause criminal damage between January 2018 and June 2019.
Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, said: "The conspiracy involved organised criminal damage to railway carriages and rolling stock by spraypainting graffiti using identifiable tags at various locations across the railway network and Tyne and Wear Metro.
"There were 37 separate incidents identified and the total value of the damage was more than £46,000. This has caused significant loss to the train companies."
"The Crown say the conspiracy was organised and well-planned with Adam Smith and Jordan Shone being the lead participants and organisers."
The court heard Heaton depot, used by Network Rail to repair and clean rolling stock and the Tyne and Wear Metro depot at South Gosforth, were repeatedly targeted but they also struck in Scotland and London.
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Counselling put in place at Queen Elizabeth High School after death of student in Hexham 'stabbing'
We also brought you news that wellbeing support has been put in place for both staff and students at Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School following the suspected murder of a 15 year old pupil on Friday night.
Our reporter Daniel Hall wrote that shortly after 5.10pm on Friday (January 27) officers from Northumbria Police were informed a teenage boy and girl had been injured in the Priestpopple area of the town centre in Hexham. Emergency services attended the scene where they found the boy and girl – aged 16 and 15 – had suffered serious stab wounds.
They were both taken to hospital but sadly, despite the best efforts of hospital staff, 15-year-old Holly, from Haltwhistle, died as a result of her injuries. The boy, who remains unnamed, remains in hospital in a stable condition.
Tributes from heartbroken family and friends have been left at the scene outside of Pizza Pizza on Hexham's Priestpopple, with Holly described as a bright and bubbly girl, and a much-loved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece and cousin.
Northumberland County Council has increased wellbeing services at Queen Elizabeth High School, which paid tribute to Holly and described the aftermath of her death as a "time of unbearable pain."
A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said: "The council has put in place wellbeing support for both staff and students at Queen Elizabeth High school.
This support will be in place for the foreseeable future to ensure both staff and students at the school are fully supported during this upsetting time.
"It is important that the staff and students are supported, given time to grieve, and their privacy too is respected."
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Newcastle transfers state of play: Chelsea slap £45million on Toon target while Milan are warned on ASM
And, finally, we brought you news that Chelsea have slapped a £45million price tag on long-term Newcastle United target Conor Gallagher ahead of deadline day.
Our Chief Newcastle United Writer Lee Ryder reporter that with Eddie Howe making it clear that Newcastle were looking at loan options going into the final day of trading, Gallagher's future was cast into doubt after the Blues swooped for Benfica star Enzo Fernandez.
The Magpies were interested in a loan for Gallagher at the start of the season but nothing materialised.
Since then Newcastle have overtaken Chelsea in the race for Champions League football with United seven places ahead of the London club and 10 points clear.
One Stamford Bridge source suggested last on the eve of deadline day that Chelsea aren't likely to make it easy for rival clubs to land their players and make Graham Potter's task of getting to the top four even harder.
But Chelsea must also balance the books a little if they do end up signing World Cup star Fernandez at a British record £105.6m.
But Newcastle would have a decision to make going into the final day of trading. Everton denied a bid last night while Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest were also linked.
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That's all from us for now, but check back at 5am tomorrow for your next North East Today update.
In the meantime, keep up-to-date with all the latest and sign up to our newsletters here.
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