LOCAL MP JOINS CAMPAIGN AGAINST DISBANDING OF ROYAL PARKS POLICE
Local MP Munira Wilson has joined the campaign to halt the downgrading of the Royal Parks policing of Bushy Park and Richmond Park.
The Liberal Democrats have launched a petition against the changes supported by Richmond MP Sarah Olney and Richmond Council leader Cllr. Gareth Roberts.
The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks have also expressed their concern about the proposed cuts said to being considered because of budget cuts to the Met.
This is the letter sent to the Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
Dear Sir Mark,
Re: Proposed changes to policing in Bushy Park
“I’m writing about an issue that has come to my attention and is of great concern to many of my constituents.
This is the news of proposed changes to the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit (OCU), the dedicated unit that includes the policing of Bushy Park in my constituency.
I understand that the proposed changes would mean that the Royal Parks would no longer have a dedicated policing unit under the OCU; rather, policing of the parks, including Bushy Park, would be served under broader geographical units.
Whilst it is reassuring to know that Bushy Park would still have police coverage under the proposed changes, many residents are concerned that the changes could lead to a reduction in the overall level of policing.
Bushy Park is a beloved nature area that plays an important part in our community life, used by residents of all ages, as well as visitors from further afield.
On any given day, residents are out riding bikes, enjoying a walk, or taking part in the local junior sports teams that use the cricket and rugby pitches.
The ten OCU officers who cover Bushy Park and Richmond Park have a crucial role in monitoring and addressing all aspects of safety in the parks, whether anti-social behaviour, missing person reports, collisions, criminal offenses or distress to wildlife.
Through my casework, I have dealt with some particularly serious cases of dog attacks on park users, including a child.
Apart from being concerned about the level of policing under the proposed changes, residents are also worried that police drawn from the wider geographical area may not have the same local knowledge of the parks and surrounding areas as the OCU officers.
I raised these concerns with local Twickenham police officers when I met with them at the end of last year, and I know that my colleague Sarah Olney, MP for Richmond Park, has written to you with her constituents’ concerns from the Richmond side.
Whilst I understand that a final decision has not been made, and that the parks would still maintain a police presence, I do have concerns about the broader pattern of reduced community policing numbers in our area.
Our local officers are overstretched, and the few we have are often taken into central London to police large events and protests, leaving precious little time for bobbies to be out on the beat, building relationships in the local community and gathering intelligence. I’m concerned that proposed changes could put yet more pressure on existing police officers.
I appreciate that difficult decisions have to be made, given the huge funding shortfalls caused by decades of underinvestment and cuts under successive Conservative Governments.
This is why, in Parliament, I have called on Home Office Ministers to address officer numbers and reverse the cuts, over the last several years, to community policing.
Following your meeting with London MPs a few months ago, I also raised with Ministers the desperate need to boost the international capital cities grant which, as you highlighted, has faced real-terms cuts since 2015.
Whilst I was pleased to see the Home Office announce an uplift to this grant before Christmas, I will continue to call on greater funding for our police across the capital, who I know work incredibly hard under often very difficult circumstances.
In the meantime, I would like to ask for reassurances that the proposed changes to the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit, which is so vital to protecting people’s safety in our local
parks, will not compromise overall policing – and safety and security – in Bushy Park.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.”
Yours sincerely,
MUNIRA WILSON MP
Member of Parliament for Twickenham