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."
