Once again Britain mourns the death of a police officer killed in the line of duty.
And once again we are reminded of the bravery of those charged with keeping us safe.
Every day the police put themselves in harm’s way to protect lives and keep order.
It is heartbreaking when, as happened in Croydon, they pay the ultimate price.
And it is all the more tragic that the victim this time is believed to have been a few weeks from retirement.
As the Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said, the police are a family. Officers across the country will be united in grief.
Full details of what happened have yet to emerge. At some point there will have to be an inquiry into why an armed man was able to enter a custody centre.
Questions about what more can be done to protect our protectors and tackle gun crime are matters for the weeks ahead.
Today we grieve for the sergeant’s family and offer condolences to his friends and colleagues.
Local uplift
The new restrictions mean millions must continue to work from home.
For many this has meant less time commuting and more time with friends and family. For others, especially those in cramped or shared accommodation, it has been
much tougher.
But as we report today there has been one upside to working from home: people are spending more money locally.
This has given our towns and suburbs a much-needed boost and helped to breathe life back into the high street.
Nobody wants the lockdown to stay in place for a day longer than necessary but we should all welcome the fact local communities have been given a chance to thrive.
Soap similar
Eastenders legend Michelle Collins has a point when she says today’s young soap stars all look the same.
No wonder the plots are so hard to follow!
