Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police


The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police is a body of constables responsible for policing the parks and open spaces of the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In 2013, it was merged with the Hammersmith and Fulham Parks Constabulary to form the Parks Police Service. Then, in July 2019 The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police moved away from The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Parks Constabulary, once again becoming a single service.

Organisation and Duties

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police is part of the Community Safety Department and provides a uniformed body of constables across parks and open spaces in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to detect and deter crime. The Parks Police consists of two Sergeants and nine Constables.

Powers

Members of the constabulary are sworn in as constables under article 18 of the Greater London Parks and Open Spaces Order 1967, meaning they have powers of a constable to deal with bye-laws relating to parks and open spaces under their control. They are not police officers, but are constables providing a police service and as such do have the powers of arrest, power to seize illicit drugs, carry weapons etc.
In 2008, the constabulary made 30 arrests, mainly for possession of drugs, minor thefts and antisocial behaviour.

Uniform and Equipment

The Constables wear a typical British police uniform, which includes:
Park Police constables are warranted constables and therefore carry batons, as well as handcuffs, radios and other police equipment.
Parks Police use vehicles to patrol, as well as carrying out usual foot patrols.

Relationship with other police

Generally in London, parks police/constabularies will pass on all serious crime to the local territorial force, which in this case is the Metropolitan Police to investigate. The RBKC Parks Police between 2013 and 2019 was merged with the Hammersmith and Fulham Parks Constabulary.