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.”
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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.”
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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.
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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.”
