Latest news with #RoyalParks'
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.'
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Teenage girl's rape in Primerose Hill parkland sparks Met Police investigation
A 16-year-old girl was raped in Primrose Hill on Friday evening, with a police cordon in place across the weekend. The teenager flagged down officers in Regents Park Road shortly before 11pm on Friday (11 April) and was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. She is currently being supported by specialist police officers. Over the weekend, a crime scene remained in place with pictures online showing officers combing the area for evidence. No arrests have been made but police enquiries are ongoing. A Royal Parks' spokesperson, said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of an incident involving a 16-year-old girl on Primrose Hill on Friday 11 April. 'Our thoughts are with her and her family. The incident is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.' During the summer months, Primrose Hill is usually closed to the public from 10pm on weekends and reopens at 6am in the morning. It comes just two weeks after Scotland Yard announced it was disbanding the Royal Parks police team, which provides policing support to Hyde Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill and Bushy Park. The Met Police is axing 1,700 police and community support officers to plug a £260m hole in its budget. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan blamed the funding crisis on the previous Conservative government. 'The previous government chronically underfunded the Met,' he said in a statement. 'That's why I'm announcing a record £1.16 billion annual investment in the police from City Hall. 'This historic increase will protect neighbourhood policing in our communities and significantly reduce the level of cuts the Met had been planning.' Sir Sadiq said he was 'under no illusions about the challenges ahead'. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or message @MetCC quoting CAD 8380/11APR. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit
