Successful year for parks constabulary
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
20/05/2008
Borough parks are safer
Parks in Hammersmith & Fulham are safer than this time last year thanks to the sterling work of the borough’s Parks Constabulary.
In the past 12 months, the constabulary, which receives £1million in funding from the council each year, has detained 12 suspects, recovered 25 stolen motorcycles, dispersed over 1,000 anti-social drinkers and responded to 97 per cent of all reported incidents within 30 minutes.
The constabulary work 365 days a year from 6am to 1.15am during the summer and from 6am to 10.45pm in the winter. And with a state-of-the-art fleet of vehicles in use, the Parks Constables can now be easily spotted across the borough’s 54 parks, open spaces and cemeteries.
Cllr Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, said: "Here in H&F, we are lucky enough to have some of the most beautiful parks and open spaces in London. Everyone has a right to feel safe wherever they are and that is what the council's Parks Constabulary deliver in our green spaces.
The parks constabulary provide uniformed patrols in parks and open spaces to help reduce crime. They work in close cooperation with the police and develop effective partnerships with other council departments and external agencies to combat anti-social behaviour.
During the last year, the constabulary has detained a dozen people for a range of criminal offences including robbery, assault, drug offences and theft.
In one instance, a suspect was arrested leaving Margravine Cemetery, Fulham, while in possession of metal signs advising dog owners that their animals must be on a lead. The constables were aware that someone was stealing the signs and deployed officers in plain clothes to catch the culprit. The suspect was spotted walking out of the cemetery with the signs and was duly apprehended.
In some cases, the work of the constabulary really is a matter of life and death. Last summer constables came across a drug-user who had overdosed in Bishops Park. The officers used their expert first-aid knowledge and tried to resuscitate the man before an ambulance was called to the scene.
Cllr Smith added: "I know that residents are always pleased to see the highly visible constables on their beat and that is why we invest so much money in the parks constabulary. The force is going from strength to strength and will continue to ensure that are parks can be enjoyed by everyone who visits them."
The constabulary also conducts joint patrols in the parks with drug and alcohol response teams. The patrols divert street drinkers and rough sleepers into the available welfare facilities, thus deterring them from a life on the street.
They also conduct patrols of the parks to provide dog owners with information on responsible ownership and inspect dogs to ensure that they are not an illegal breed or display signs of mistreatment. In total, 116 Fixed Penalty Notices for dog control order offences have been issued since last June. A dozen notices have also been issued for littering.
They conduct truancy patrols with the council’s education welfare officers and also assist the emergency services during major incidents, deal with fly tipping and remove hypodermic needles.
