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 Metropolitan Police ‘s decision to disband their Royal Parks unit has created fears that London ‘s lawless parks will be further ravaged by crime (Pictured: Regent’s Park)
A robber wielding a hammer threatens 33-year-old cyclist Patrick Conneely in Regent’s Park while his associate sits on a moped ready to ride off
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
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.
In a statement to MailOnline they said: ‘As the charity responsible for managing and maintaining London’s most historic green spaces, 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.
‘We are awaiting full details from the MPS on how this decision will impact their policing of the parks going forward. The Royal Parks Regulations can only be enforced by the MPS. The safety and wellbeing of everyone who uses the Royal Parks is our top priority, and 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.’
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.’
Terrified bikers at Regent’s Park have previously reached out to the Met Police, which has said it cannot work earlier hours to patrol the park
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.
The thug grabs the bike and before jumping on the moped, which Mr Conneely bravely attempted to push over
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
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’.
