BY GRAHAM MAJOR

Initial recruitment for the service was conducted within the Council, once this was completed press advertisements were placed to bring the service up to strength. The service began a four week period of training on the 24th August 1998, and went live on the 21st September. Its primary role was to provide a high profile presence to deter anti-social behaviour and to enforce the bye-laws. In addition they also undertook security work for Newham Emergency Security Service (NESS) and monitored the general state of parks as well as reporting problems for action to be taken by the appropriate Council department. During the first week of operations fifty verbal warnings were issued and nineteen arrests were made over the first six months.

In order to assist the Constabulary in fulfilling its role new bye-laws were introduced on the 20th November 1998. These bye-laws covered opening times, banned the use of motor vehicles, cycles and trading along with regulating behaviour in the parks. Although they applied to all fifty-two parks a patrol service was only provided in twenty-two of them.

The 3rd December 1998 saw the Constabulary involved in two arrests in West Ham Recreation Ground. In the first incident, Park Officers observed three young men in a play area, one of whom was behaving suspiciously. When approached an amount of cannabis was found and the local police were called. In the second incident three young men were again observed, one of whom appeared to be hiding something under his coat. When challenged he tried to escape and threw away a tray of rings complete with price tags. Again local police were called and the person handed over. These incidents are a good example of the value of a dedicated Parks Constabulary and illustrate how they and the local police working in partnership, can ensure the parks remain safe for those wishing to use them.

The 24th May 1999 saw the introduction of a new cap badge to the Service, along with a bell shaped jersey patch, and one titled Neighbourhood Patrol for use when patrolling outside of the parks.

Another initiative for 1999 was the introduction of Contact Officers. Each Constable was given ownership of a park and any problems identified are given to that officer to action. They saw any complainant and tried to resolve the issue. If it was beyond them, the Senior Constable would see the person and discuss how the problem could be tackled. During the course of a normal tour each Officer endeavoured to patrol their park a couple of times.

To allow incidents to be responded to quickly a hot line was installed which the public could call. During the winter this handled about ten calls a week, but during the summer this often rose to eight to nine calls a day. Officers of the Parks Constabulary aimed to respond to calls for help within fifteen minutes and calls outside Park Constabulary hours were handled by officers of NESS. The preferred method of dealing with incidents was by word of advice or, if necessary, by ejection from the parks. This approach was sensible as many people broke the bye-laws without realising and to prosecute all would alienate the Service from the people it served.

The Service did not consider itself a police force in the Home Office sense, though Officers made a voluntary declaration. This was made in accordance with Section 18 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 and Section 12 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868, to serve the Council in the office of Constable; in pursuance of Section 77 of the Public Health Amendment Act 1907 and Article 18 of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation (Greater London Parks and Open Spaces) Act 1967. This declaration was made before a Justice of the Peace at Stratford Magistrates Court.