Latest news with #GarethRoberts
Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
End of the rainbow, rising illiteracy & swimming pool etiquette
End of the rainbow: Pride's fall What 'started half a century ago as an afternoon's little march for lesbians and gay men', argues Gareth Roberts, became 'a jamboree not only of boring homosexuality' but 'anything else that its purveyors consider unconventional'. Yet now Reform-led councils are taking down Pride flags, Pride events are being cancelled due to lack of funds, and corporate sponsors are 'withdrawing their cold tootsies from the rainbow sock'. Has Pride suffered from conflation with 'genderism'? Gareth joined the podcast to discuss, alongside diversity consultant Simon Fanshawe, one of the six original co-founders of Stonewall. (0:59) Next: people are forgetting how to read Philip Womack 'can hear the rumblings of disaster, as if the foundations of western culture, eroded for decades, are teetering into collapse'. The reason? We are forgetting how to read. Today's children 'hardly read; their tech-blinded parents don't care; their teachers don't have the resources'. American students participating in a study requiring them to parse the first paragraph of Bleak House 'were unable to elicit a scintilla of sense' from Charles Dickens's prose. What or who is to blame? Philip joined the podcast to discuss. (23:29) And finally: the social minefield of swimming pool season Arabella Byrne writes in the magazine this week that while she has 'always loved English swimming pools', the arrival of the summer season always presents her 'with an annual etiquette conundrum'. If you're lucky enough to know one of the 200,000 Brits who have a private swimming pool, she asks: how acceptable is it – really – to ask to use a friend's pool? Arabella joined the podcast, alongside the Spectator's very own Dear Mary, Mary Killen. (32:46) Hosted by William Moore and Gus Carter. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fears of crime surge as Met disbands dedicated Royal Parks police unit
Fears of a crime surge in London's historic Royal Parks are growing after plans emerged to scrap their dedicated policing team as part of sweeping Metropolitan Police budget cuts. For over 130 years, specialist officers have closely guarded the capital's iconic green spaces, with around 80 Met officers currently assigned to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour, and patrol high-profile events such as the Changing of the Guard. But the Met has now confirmed these officers will be absorbed into local neighbourhood teams as it attempts to bridge a funding gap of £260 million, Sky News reports. The Royal Parks charity manages more than 5,000 acres of green space, including Hyde Park, Regent's Park, and Richmond Park. A spokesperson for the Royal Parks said: "We are disappointed with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) decision to close its dedicated Royal Parks police unit. "The Royal Parks MPS unit and its predecessors have been a massive part of the rich history of the parks in London for over 150 years. "We are deeply grateful to those police colleagues who have been so committed in their work to protect our amazing green spaces and ensure the safety, security and welfare of the millions of visitors to the parks." The charity sought to reassure visitors that their safety "is our top priority," adding it is seeking further clarity from the Met on future policing arrangements. London Assembly Member Gareth Roberts, who is also Liberal Democrat Leader of Richmond Council, warned that crime would inevitably rise due to reduced policing coverage. He said: "We will have that type of space within the capital being largely unpoliced. "I hope that we won't be seeing dire consequences, but we have already seen organised criminal gangs targeting cyclists when they know that the police aren't on duty… and this could open the door to further acts like that." According to the Royal Parks' latest annual report, crime rose by around one-third between 2022/23 and 2023/24, increasing from 76 incidents to 101. Sexual offences, phone thefts and drug dealing are among the most frequently reported crimes, while Mr Roberts highlighted recent cases where cyclists have been threatened and robbed of expensive bikes. Less frequent but disturbing offences include gangs deliberately using dogs to chase deer at night, hoping to force the animals to shed their antlers, which can then be sold online. Commander Owain Richards confirmed last week that as part of its wider budget cuts, the Met will lose around 1,700 officers and staff, with the Royal Parks team among several specialist units set for disbandment. In a letter, Commander Richards stated: "It is with regret that we have taken the tough decision to no longer have a dedicated Royal Parks policing team." The parks have had specialist policing since 1872, beginning with park keepers, replaced by the Royal Parks Constabulary in 1974, and finally the dedicated Royal Parks policing unit established in 2004. In future, local neighbourhood policing teams will take over responsibility for security and safety in the parks. A spokesperson for the Met said: "Park users and partners can be reassured the Met will continue to respond to emergency calls, patrol hotspot areas, investigate crimes, and support events in Royal Parks across London. "We have been working closely with the Royal Parks and stakeholders to understand concerns as we navigate our £260m funding gap and reduce the size of the Met. "The Met is prioritising neighbourhood policing and see this as a positive opportunity to integrate the Royal Parks into local community crime fighting plans and ensure a wider pool of officers understand the unique requirements of parks policing."
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Fears crime in London's lawless parks will skyrocket as the Royal Parks disbands police unit after 150 years
The Metropolitan Police 's decision to disband their Royal Parks unit has created fears that London 's lawless parks will be further ravaged by crime. After 150 years of protecting the capital's Royal Parks, the Met has confirmed the dedicated team will be dissolved in November in an effort to help plug a £260million funding gap. Around 80 officers who respond to serious crimes, protect wildlife, enforce regulations and policing events such as the Changing of the Guard, will be transferred to other local teams. It comes after terrified cyclists begged the Met to start patrolling parks earlier in the day after swathes of violent robberies have seen them threatened with hammers and sharp objects. The muggers have been operating in Regent's Park where more than 30 cycling clubs meet between 5.45am and 7am each day before the area opens to cars. Other serious crimes reported in the parks include mobile phone snatching, drug dealing and sexual offences. Criminal incidents reported in the parks increased by around a third from 76 in the year 2022/23 to 101 in 2023/24, according to the Royal Parks' latest annual report. Preying on the groups, the often expensive bikes are regularly snatched by armed, balaclava-clad men on motorcycles, leaving cyclists petrified to go out in the capital. The Royal Parks charity said they are 'disappointed' with the decision and are working with the force to make sure a plan to maintain public safety is set up. Officers in the area currently do not begin patrolling the park until 8am and have said they cannot start any earlier in response to queries from the bikers. The Royal Parks charity, which is responsible for managing the 5,000 acres of green spaces, said they are 'disappointed' with the decision and are working with the force to make sure a plan to maintain public safety is put in place. Gareth Roberts, the Liberal Democrat Leader of Richmond Council and London Assembly Member, told Sky News he believes a rise in crime is 'almost inevitable'. He said the combined area, which is as large as Heathrow and Gatwick airports, will be 'largely unpoliced'. The MP, who is also a Royal Parks trustee, added the decision 'could open the door to further acts' from the 'organised criminal gangs' who have been targeting cyclists 'when they know police aren't on duty'. In a report on Richmond Councils website, Mr Roberts called it a 'huge mistake' and said: 'At a time when residents are already concerned about the visibility of policing, this decision will do nothing to reassure them. 'The loss of the specialist policing team would leave them more vulnerable to crime and anti-social behaviour.' He added that losing the Royal Parks policing team will place an 'additional burden on already overstretched local policing resources and risks leaving our parks unprotected'. In February, the Regent's Park Cyclists group penned an open letter to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service Sir Mark Rowley warning him of the 'chilling' effect of the 'weekly' attacks on cyclists across London. In his letter, Chairman of the group, Sean Epstein quoted figures from a Freedom of Information response from the force, which reported that in the year up to December 2023, 768 crimes of a pedal cycle being stolen using violence or the threat of violence were reported - equivalent to '15 violent attacks each week, every week of the year'. He added that a poll of members also found that out of 1,400 respondents, 91 per cent felt less safe as a result of a recent surge in violent robberies, with 59 per cent admitting they'd reduced their cycling as a consequence. However, in a response they received from former Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, Mr Epstein was told a national review of cycling theft had found that violent robberies were 'currently occurring in isolation' with 'no particular patterns' or indications of 'wider, organised criminality'. The letter from Ms Rolfe, who has since moved on from her role as Assistant Commissioner, said: 'I am confident that our renewed commitment to community-focused policing and the strengthening of the teams working in local areas will only enhance this ability and lead to improved results.' Mr Epstein said he was dissatisfied with the response and added: 'Lots of nice words but no actual resource commitment. 'Over the last year, there has been a massive drop in participation in cycling and people just not feeling safe. 'Over the summer, when the mornings get lighter, the problem went away. But now the winter is back, the cycle continues and there's no meaningful response.' Some cyclists who've had their bikes stolen said they have been threatened by thugs with knives, machetes and hammers. In 2022, almost 90 per cent of bike thefts reported across England went unsolved, according to figures from the House of Commons Library. And in the five years up to June 2022, just 159 people were found guilty of bike theft out of an estimated 350,000 reported cases. Many victims also don't bother reporting their bikes being stolen - due to their lack of faith in the police's ability to locate and reclaim them. Earlier in the year, a Regent's Park cyclist had his £4,200 road bike robbed by hammer-wielding thugs during a morning ride. Patrick Conneely, who lives in from Leyton, east London, was doing a lap around the Outer Circle road when was passed by two men riding a moped, who inspected his bike before turning around and pursuing him. Exclusive video obtained by MailOnline shows the shocking encounter that followed, with one of the men leaping off the moped and shouting at Mr Conneely to, as he recalled, 'Give me the f*****g bike'. After the 33-year-old bravely refused, the thug took a hammer from the top box and waved it at him while continuing to shout violent threats. He then grabbed the bike and jumped on the moped carrying it above his head. At this point Mr Conneely surged forward and tried to push the moped over before the men rode away at speed. The data analyst believes that the way the pair inspected the brand of his Trek Domane bike before deciding to target him showed they 'knew what they were doing'.
Telegraph
03-05-2025
- Telegraph
Royal Parks police scrapped after 150 years
Scotland Yard's decision to scrap its dedicated Royal Parks unit after more than 150 years has prompted fears of a crime surge. The Metropolitan Police has announced that the specialist unit will be disbanded from November 1 and its officers moved to local teams in a bid to help cope with a £260 million funding shortfall. Around 77 officers and 17 special constables are currently responsible for responding to serious crimes, protecting wildlife and policing events, such as the Changing of the Guard, across 5,000 acres of London's royal parkland, including Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park and Bushy Park. The decision to scrap the unit has drawn criticism, with warnings that criminals will take advantage of the move to target walkers, cyclists and families enjoying the parks' facilities. Criminal incidents reported in the parks have already risen by around a third from 76 in the year between 2022 and 2023 to 101 in between 2023 and 2024, according to the Royal Parks' latest annual report. These include cyclists being forced off their bikes with threats of violence, sexual offences, mobile phone thefts and drug dealing. Other incidents have included gangs chasing deer with dogs at night to remove their antlers and sell them online. The dedicated Royal Parks policing unit has existed since 2004, taking over from the Royal Parks Constabulary, which was set up in 1974. Before that, park keepers were responsible for policing the areas since 1872. In a letter announcing the decision, Metropolitan Police Commander Owain Richards stated: 'It is with regret that we have taken the tough decision to no longer have a dedicated Royal Parks policing team.' The Royal Parks charity, which spends around £65 million a year managing and maintaining the historic parkland, has expressed its 'disappointment' and has pledged to work with the Met in a bid to ensure public safety. Gareth Roberts, the Liberal Democrat leader of Richmond Council and a member of the London Assembly, warned that a rise in crime was 'almost inevitable', with an area the combined size of Heathrow and Gatwick airports being left 'largely unpoliced'. Mr Roberts, who is also a Royal Parks trustee, said: 'This is a huge mistake. At a time when residents are already concerned about the visibility of policing, this decision will do nothing to reassure them. The loss of the specialist policing team would leave them more vulnerable to crime and anti-social behaviour. 'Decisions like this undermine public confidence in local policing. Losing this specialist team places an additional burden on already overstretched local policing resources and risks leaving our parks unprotected.' Rachel Blake, the Labour MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said she was 'deeply concerned' by the move. She told Sky News: 'With crime in the parks rising, removing a dedicated and experienced police presence is a serious mistake. These officers have specialist knowledge that cannot simply be replaced by a small number of overstretched neighbourhood officers. 'At a time when both the Government and the mayor are investing in policing, I am calling for the Metropolitan Police to provide a like-for-like replacement of Royal Parks officers to protect the safety of everyone who uses these vital green spaces.' A spokesman for the Royal Parks said: 'We are disappointed with the Metropolitan Police Service's decision to close its dedicated Royal Parks police unit. 'We want to reassure the public that we are working closely with the police over the next six months to ensure a plan is put in place to maintain public safety once the unit is fully disbanded.' Dr Tina Challacombe, chairwoman of the Friends of Greenwich Park committee, said: 'We are very sad and disappointed to lose the parks' police. We are concerned for the future safety and security of visitors to the park and also the enforcement of traffic regulations.' The Yard's funding shortfall has led to a reduction in 1,700 police, staff and community support officers. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, blamed the cuts on 'chronic underfunding' of the Met by the previous Conservative government and said the reductions had been made to protect neighbourhood policing. A Met spokesman said: 'Park users and partners can be reassured the Met will continue to respond to emergency calls, patrol hotspot areas, investigate crimes, and support events in Royal Parks across London. 'The Met is prioritising neighbourhood policing and sees this as a positive opportunity to integrate the Royal Parks into local community crime-fighting plans and ensure a wider pool of officers understand the unique requirements of parks policing.'
Sky News
03-05-2025
- Sky News
Rise in crime 'almost inevitable' as Royal Parks police disbanded after 150 years
London's historic Royal Parks have been policed by a dedicated team of officers for more than 150 years. But the Metropolitan Police has confirmed that will come to an end in November when it disbands its specialist unit in a bid to help plug a £260m funding gap. Around 80 officers currently responsible for responding to serious crimes, protecting wildlife, enforcing regulations, and policing events such as the Changing of the Guard, will be moved to local teams. The Royal Parks charity responsible for managing and maintaining the 5,000 acres of green spaces, including Hyde Park, Regent's Park, and Richmond Park, said they are "disappointed" with the decision and are working with the force to ensure a plan is put in place to maintain public safety. Liberal Democrat Leader of Richmond Council and London Assembly Member Gareth Roberts believes a rise in crime across a combined area as large as Heathrow and Gatwick airports is "almost inevitable". "We will have that type of space within the capital being largely unpoliced," he told Sky News. "I hope that we won't be seeing dire consequences, but we have already seen organised criminal gangs targeting cyclists when they know that the police aren't on duty… and this could open the door to further acts like that." Criminal incidents reported in the parks rose around a third from 76 in the year 2022/23 to 101 in 2023/24, according to the Royal Parks' latest annual report. Mr Roberts, who is also a Royal Parks trustee, said cyclists have been forced off their high-end bikes with threats of violence, while other serious crimes reported include sexual offences, mobile phone thefts and drug dealing. More unusual incidents include gangs chasing deer with dogs at night to get them to shed their antlers, which they then sell online, he said. The Met has announced the force would cut 1,700 officers and staff, and slash some services in an effort to save money - despite receiving increases from central and local government. Politicians and campaigners had urged the force to rethink plans to completely get rid of the dedicated Royal Parks policing unit, which has existed since 2004, taking over from the Royal Parks Constabulary, which was set up in 1974. Before that, park keepers had been responsible for policing since 1872. But a letter from the Met's Commander Owain Richards last week confirmed the unit will be fully disbanded by 1 November this year. "It is with regret that we have taken the tough decision to no longer have a dedicated Royal Parks policing team," he said. Local neighbourhood policing teams will instead take over responsibility, as is already the case in places such as Brockwell Park and Clapham Common, in south London, according to the letter. A Met spokesperson said: "Park users and partners can be reassured the Met will continue to respond to emergency calls, patrol hotspot areas, investigate crimes, and support events in Royal Parks across London." But Mr Roberts said already overstretched local teams do not have the extra resources to go into the parks and worries it will "create an atmosphere where criminality could flourish, without the presence of a very dedicated police force". "I have had people saying they will now feel less safe in the parks because they can be quite isolated places some of the time," he added. Rachel Blake, the Labour MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said she was "deeply concerned". "With crime in the parks rising, removing a dedicated and experienced police presence is a serious mistake," she told Sky News. "These officers have specialist knowledge that cannot simply be replaced by a small number of overstretched neighbourhood officers. "At a time when both the government and the mayor are investing in policing, I am calling for the Metropolitan Police to provide a like-for-like replacement of Royal Parks officers to protect the safety of everyone who uses these vital green spaces." A Royal Parks spokesperson said: "We are disappointed with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) decision to close its dedicated Royal Parks police unit. "The Royal Parks MPS unit and its predecessors have been a massive part of the rich history of the parks in London for over 150 years. "We are deeply grateful to those police colleagues who have been so committed in their work to protect our amazing green spaces and ensure the safety, security and welfare of the millions of visitors to the parks." The charity says it is awaiting full details of how the decision will impact policing of the parks and reassured visitors their safety and wellbeing "is our top priority". "We want to reassure the public that we are working closely with the police over the next six months to ensure a plan is put in place to maintain public safety once the unit is fully disbanded," a spokesperson said. The Met said in a statement: "We have been working closely with the Royal Parks and stakeholders to understand concerns as we navigate our £260m funding gap and reduce the size of the Met. "The Met is prioritising neighbourhood policing and see this as a positive opportunity to integrate the Royal Parks into local community crime fighting plans and ensure a wider pool of officers understand the unique requirements of parks policing."
