Gareth Roberts is calling the decision a “dangerous mistake” that puts both public safety and conservation at risk.
The decision to disband the specialist unit, tasked with protecting London’s iconic parks, comes as part of wider cost-cutting efforts to address a £260 million budget gap. The confirmation of the anticipated service cut was detailed in a letter sent by the Met Police to Mr Roberts.
Speaking today, Assembly Member Roberts said:
“Scrapping the Royal Parks Police is a dangerous and short-sighted mistake. It puts public safety at risk and threatens the long-term care and conservation of green spaces that millions rely on. These parks are national treasures—cutting their specialist protection is a reckless false economy.”
“Losing this team of specialists means losing decades of experience in managing delicate wildlife habitats, balancing conservation with public use, and responding to the unique challenges these spaces pose. Handing their responsibilities to already overstretched local officers is both unrealistic and irresponsible.”
Roberts has pledged to seek urgent talks with the Metropolitan Police, The Royal Parks, and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to ensure robust protection remains in place.
He also flagged concerns about the tight timeline for transition, warning that a rushed handover by the November 2025 deadline risks gaps in park safety.
A Royal Parks’ spokesperson 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.”
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.
“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.”
