ROYAL PARKS POLICE TO BE DISBANDED AT END OF YEAR – REPORT
The Royal Parks police covering Bushy Park and Richmond Park with be controversially withdrawn at the end of the year prompting fears of a crime wave, according to a report.
The shock announcement came as Richmond and Bushy Parks Safer Parks Panel was updated by the Met Police that the Royal Parks Police will continue until ‘at least’ March 31.
Then, the panel was told, the plan is for the parks police to be closed down by December .
The cuts are being made because:
- The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has warned that up to 2,000 officers and specialist teams may be cut to meet efficiency targets.
- The cuts are part of efforts to address a £450 million budget shortfall.
Both local MP’s Munira Wilson and Sarah Olney have expressed their concern and their fears of extra crime if Parks police cover is withdrawn and a petition was launched.
Ms Wilson wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley saying: “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.”
The Friends of Bushy and Home Park have also made public their concerns if the police cover is withdrawn.