Mosques and Islamic centres in the UK have been granted £10 million in extra security funding in response to a rise in hate crimes, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced.
The money will provide CCTV, alarm systems, secure fencing and security personnel services and builds on the £29.4 million already available this year for mosques and Muslim faith schools. During last summer's violent disorder, mosques in Southport, Middlesbrough and Sunderland were attacked, causing significant distress to local communities.
The funding for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme was announced during the Prime Minister's visit to Peacehaven Mosque in East Sussex, which fell victim to an arson attack on October 4. The scheme protects mosques, Muslim community centres and Muslim faith schools that have experienced or are vulnerable to hate crime.
The most recent hate crime statistics show that anti-Muslim hate crimes rose by 19 per cent in the year ending March 2025, and that 44 per cent of all religious hate crimes were against Muslims.
Mr Starmer said: “Britain is a proud and tolerant country. Attacks on any community are attacks on our entire nation and our values. This funding will provide Muslim communities with the protection they need and deserve, allowing them to live in peace and safety.
“I want a Britain built for all and my government is committed to delivering safer streets for everyone – and that means protecting places of worship from those who seek to divide us through hate and violence.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the attack on the Peacehaven Mosque as “an appalling crime, that could easily have led to an even more devastating outcome”.
“I am proud of this country because of the rights we all have to follow the faith of our choosing, and to live free from hatred and fear,” she said. “That right must be defended. Violence and intimidation directed at any community or faith are attacks on us all. We must stand together against those who seek to divide us.”
The announcement comes after The National revealed that a proposal to introduce new laws to protect Muslims from hate in the UK has resulted in a behind the scenes move to quash a recommended definition of Islamophobia.
The UK Home Office highlighted a “clear spike” in anti-Muslim hate crime in August 2024, which coincided with the Southport murders on July 29 and the subsequent rioting in several English towns and cities.
After three girls were killed at dance party in the town, misinformation spread online that the attacker was a Muslim who had arrived in the UK on a small boat. The perpetrator had in reality arrived in the UK as a child from Rwanda and was from a Christian background.
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
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iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
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iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
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The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
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