Proposed Fines in Royal Parks

[derelict]

following a month in which a number of Richmond Park deer have "left the herd" at RP my attention was drawn to this. There's something for everyone in this list!

Originally Posted by Elizabeth Hopkirk, Evening Standard, 10 Sept 2008

Park police want power to fine by-law breakers


Royal Parks chiefs are pressing for a change in the law to allow police officers to issue on-the-spot fines to people breaking by-laws.

It would mean cyclists caught riding in forbidden areas of the eight Royal Parks, dog owners who fail to clear up after their pets and people lighting fires or even playing musical instruments could be hit with a £40 or £60 fine.

The proposal is backed by the Met. Currently transgressors can only be prosecuted through the courts, a longwinded and costly process. Most offenders are simply given a ticking off, said a police spokesman.

Yet the Met, which has been responsible for policing the open spaces since 2006, has long been allowed to issue fixedpenalty notices to people breaking minor regulations elsewhere in the capital.

It emerged today that Mark Camley, chief executive of the Royal Parks Agency, has written to Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, asking him to extend the scheme into the parks.

Mr Camley said: "At the moment if cyclists use pedestrian footpaths the case goes to the magistrates' court. The process takes around seven months. We've applied to change current legislation to enable us to give out on-the-spot fines for cyclists who are not using designated areas."

The fines could also be imposed for more arcane breaches of park by-laws, including stealing eggs from birds nests.

Offenders would be issued with a penalty notice on the spot but would have a fixed period to pay the fine.

A Royal Parks spokeswoman said: "It would cut down on the paperwork and speed up the process. We think it would improve the parks for everyone." A spokesman said Scotland Yard had been looking into the idea for some time.

He added that police would publicise any change in the law widely before they began fining people.

At the moment troublemakers who are prosecuted successfully through the magistrates' courts can be fined up to £200, but cases rarely get this far.

The eight Royal Parks are Regents Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, St James's Park, Greenwich Park, Bushy Park and Richmond Park.

The rules would also apply to Brompton Cemetery, Victoria Tower Gardens and Grosvenor Square Gardens which come under Royal Parks jurisdiction.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice confirmed it had received Mr Camley's letter and was looking into the proposals.

NOT ALLOWED

Banned under Royal Parks by-laws:

Demonstrations - including in the Mall and the area around Buckingham Palace

Landing a helicopter or aeroplane, except in an emergency

Dropping litter Cycling, skateboarding or rollerblading anywhere except on roads and designated areas

Failing to keep an animal under control

Allowing a dog to foul pathways or mown lawn areas

Riding, driving, cycling or skating in a dangerous manner

Driving off-road Lighting a fire or discarding a lighted match

Banned without written permission from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport:

Interfering with any plant or fungus

Stepping on flowerbeds

Selling or renting anything

Exhibiting notices or advertisements

Playing musical instruments

Camping or erecting a tent or gazebo

Washing or drying laundry

Radios

Discharging a weapon or projecting any missile

Collecting money

Making a speech, except for at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park

Putting on a play or a parade

Filming or taking photographs for commercial purposes

Fishing

Injuring or worrying animals or birds

Taking eggs

Boating or swimming in any water other than designated areas

Feeding or touching deer and pelicans

Riding animals except in designated areas

Towing or parking a caravan

Generally good news - I reckon with this list the park could be fully funded from the fines from some of these categories!

[Kayleigh]

How the hell are they going to police this when they cant police the streets lol
You need police to enforce this not speed cameras..

[big bill]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

How the hell are they going to police this when they cant police the streets lol
You need police to enforce this not speed cameras..

Toatally agree 100% with you on this the police cannot cope enforcement of the laws on the streets at the moment never mind policing the Royal Parks ,this is a non starter ion my opinion and a waste of time and effort.
Most towns and cities have bye-laws about dog fouling at the moment and they are not enforcede

[Ukwildlifeo]

I think its a good idea - if the policeman is wandering through the park (they often do) and they see something they can do something about it. In regents park theres a big problem with out of control dogs scaring and sometimes killing the ducks and other wildfowl

[Kayleigh]

Well it is a good idea and I hope they will be able to enforce it but they need to tackle the real problems like banning unsociable people from keeping unsociable dogs.
Like that's going to happen..
If they cant stop people using mobile phones when driving I cant see how they will police it..
If they do walk through the parks they will need stop and search people for knives and guns when really they need to be on the streets. I think they need more than a fine anyway this country is too bloody soft.

[sometimes]

Maybe they should fence the Parks off, and charge admission - that way they can control access and keep undesirables out. I don't think I'd rush to buy a season ticket.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Like that's going to happen..
If they cant stop people using mobile phones when driving I cant see how they will police it..
If they do walk through the parks they will need stop and search people for knives and guns when really they need to be on the streets. I think they need more than a fine anyway this country is too bloody soft.

There are Metropolitan police officers and PCSOs based in most parks, with their 'head office' in St. James's. They were policed by the Royal Parks Constabulary until the Met took over. Officers work 24/7 and are told to spend 90% of their shift time patrolling (the rest is breaks, paperwork, etc). The last statistic on crime in the parks was 600 committed per year, though of course the number will go up as new regs are made and subsequently policed.

I think the said regulations are police-able. Their ability to enforce these isn't affected by street crime outside as the Royal Parks officers only work inside, occasionally going out to respond to emergencies if there isn't anything taking priority inside.

Time will tell

[Blackbrook Eye]

Put the coppers on bonuses for fines collected and then see if it can't be policed.

Keith

[fairplay]

At least they are not proposing to stop 'humping in the bushes' (ahh..... memories.)

Neil.

[sometimes]

Originally Posted by fairplay

At least they are not proposing to stop 'humping in the bushes' (ahh..... memories.)

Neil.

I think they're already made that illegal.
That's what she's told me anyway.