Against a febrile backdrop of nationwide protests at police brutality, work has begun on the creation of a £4.5 million memorial to honour British officers killed in the line of duty.
The ceremonial breaking of the ground occurred on Friday at the site of the intended memorial in the West Midlands that will commemorate the more than 4,200 personnel who have lost their lives in service since the formation of the British police force in 1749.
The commencement of work comes at a time of particular tension between the police and members of the public during Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
Statues, plaques and memorials across the country are being boarded up as a protective measure to prevent more from being toppled after a statue of Edward Colston, the 17th-century slave trader, was dragged down from its plinth and thrown into a river in Bristol on Sunday.
Supporters of the international human rights movement subsequently created an interactive map called Topple the Racists, as a hit list of memorials that should be taken down so that Britain could “finally face the truth about its past”.
At a demonstration in Glasgow on Sunday condemning the death of George Floyd, an African-American killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, protesters targeted the statue of Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the modern police force in Britain. A campaign continues to have the statue removed.
The turning of the soil for the future police monument at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire was done by the fathers of constables Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, who were killed in Manchester in 2012 in a grenade and firearm attack while investigating a hoax burglary call.
PC Hughes's father, Bryn, described it as a proud and poignant day, adding that he was honoured to be taking part alongside PC Bone's father, Paul.
In a speech to mark the start of the project, Sir Hugh Orde, the chairman of the trustees of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust, mentioned PC Keith Palmer, who was killed in a terrorist attack on parliament in 2017, and PC Andrew Harper, who was dragged behind a motor vehicle after responding to a burglary last year.
“It is vital that their sacrifices are never forgotten,” Sir Hugh said.
“This memorial will represent policing at its best and will honour all of those who have died in its service. It will complement the other policing memorials around the country just as the Cenotaph is complemented by local war memorials in towns and villages,” he added.
The Cenotaph, a war memorial in Whitehall, London, was also targeted by protesters in the past week and has, as with so many others, now been boarded up for its own protection.
The Conservative MP Michael Fabricant praised the start of work on the police memorial in his constituency in Staffordshire.
“The police do an amazing job - especially with all the childish vandalism being done in the name of anti-racism at the moment,” Mr Fabricant posted on Twitter.
Others on social media asked whether the memorial would also have to be boarded up once completed because of the ongoing protests, with at least one wondering “how long before the mob fell it?”. Another responded: “May as well not bother. It will be on the ‘list’ as soon as it is finished.”
There were those, too, who questioned why the police memorial had received government funding while promises to erect a monument in Hyde Park to the victims of slavery in Britain remain unfulfilled.
The ongoing Black Lives Matter protests, which began in the United States but have since spilt over across the globe, have ignited debates about discrimination and police brutality.
On Wednesday, Britain’s most senior ethnic minority police chief, Neil Basu, told his colleagues that it is time to “stand up to racism”.
Mr Basu, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, voiced support for what he called the “legitimate anger” that had manifested on Britain’s streets in recent weeks.
However, police have also spoken out against assaults on officers, particularly after an attack on two colleagues in the London Borough of Hackney was recorded and shared on social media.
After four arrests related to the incident, Detective Chief Superintendent Marcus Barnett said: “Attacking or assaulting police officers in London or anywhere else is completely unacceptable, will never be accepted in society’s eyes and must stop."
The open-air police memorial was designed by Walter Jack, will have space to accommodate 1,500 people, and is expected to be completed by spring next year.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
Avatar%20(2009)
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEquestrian%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAbdullah%20Humaid%20Al%20Muhairi%2C%20Abdullah%20Al%20Marri%2C%20Omar%20Al%20Marzooqi%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Suwaidi%2C%20and%20Ali%20Al%20Karbi%20(four%20to%20be%20selected).%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EJudo%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Narmandakh%20Bayanmunkh%20(66kg)%2C%20Nugzari%20Tatalashvili%20(81kg)%2C%20Aram%20Grigorian%20(90kg)%2C%20Dzhafar%20Kostoev%20(100kg)%2C%20Magomedomar%20Magomedomarov%20(%2B100kg)%3B%20women's%20Khorloodoi%20Bishrelt%20(52kg).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECycling%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESafia%20Al%20Sayegh%20(women's%20road%20race).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESwimming%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Yousef%20Rashid%20Al%20Matroushi%20(100m%20freestyle)%3B%20women%3A%20Maha%20Abdullah%20Al%20Shehi%20(200m%20freestyle).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAthletics%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMaryam%20Mohammed%20Al%20Farsi%20(women's%20100%20metres).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Company%20Profile
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Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
The%20specs
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Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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