What makes a claim checkable?
The measure, place, period and source.
First, identify the measure. Is it a count of people, applications, decisions or permissions? Is it a total or a rate?
Second, identify the place and population. UK, Great Britain, England and Wales and a single council are not interchangeable. Country of birth and nationality are different characteristics.
Third, identify the period. Separate a calendar year, a rolling year and a snapshot on one date. Fourth, open the original source and read the table notes, uncertainty and revisions.
Finally, check the comparison. A percentage change needs the right starting value. A claim about cause needs evidence about cause, not simply two trends moving together.
A headline gives a number but no date. Is it ready to check?
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No. Find the period before comparing it with another figure.