Agenda item

The Sub-Committee received a written report that updated on the progress in implementing the proposals of introducing Parks Protection Officers as agreed by Cabinet in December 2015.

The report outlined that since February 2016, Parks Protection Officers have been attested as constables to enable them to detain suspected offenders in the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces. The new powers have been used on average about twice a month. The power had assisted in dealing with those isolated cases where the alleged offenders have not been willing to cooperate and there had been no incidents in the use of the power.

The Sub-Committee noted that there were currently five permanent members of staff consisting of a Parks Protection Manager and 4 Parks Enforcement Officers whose responsibility to specifically in Havering parks and open spaces.  The team operated seven days a week, covering key times throughout the day and evening from a base in Raphael Park.

The report informed Members that attestation provided powers of a constable to Parks Protection Officers have been in operation for ten months with them formally being used 21 times, an average of just over 2 detentions a month. It was still early to draw any firm conclusions at this stage other than the power had been of assistance in isolated cases which was the reason for introducing the power as identified in the Cabinet report.

The arrest powers have been successfully used and been an additional tool for the Parks Protection Service in patrolling the Council’s parks and open spaces and responding to calls.

The status of constable had also assisted in providing a level of protection such that no officer had since been subject to assault or threat of assault during the monitoring period. 

The Standard operating procedure had been reviewed with a slight change to clarify that Parks Protection Officers could act around the perimeter of parks/open spaces to prevent unlawful trespass and by exception can stop at incidents encountered when travelling in the Borough (for example stopping to assist the community where need for assistance is identified), although attestation powers cannot be used in either case.

The report stated that since June 2016, as part of the Clean and Safe review of senior management, Parks Protection had been part of the Regulatory Services service as part of the enforcement review within Regulatory Services would include the future role of Parks Protection in part of any Council enforcement function.

In the meantime, it is considered that the attestation process, providing a change to greater constable powers, has been successfully implemented without any incidents.

Other than an initial cost for additional equipment and court fees, the introduction of the attestation power for Parks Protection Officers has not resulted in any additional financial costs.

In officers’ view, the attestation of officers to constable status in Parks had proved to be useful in addressing criminal behaviour in the parks/open spaces and a valuable additional tool in regard to ensuring effective enforcement.

The Sub-Committee noted that given that it was still early into the period since the power had been granted, the risks identified in the Cabinet report still existed and as such further periodic reviews of the power was recommended as well as internal review at least annually of the Standard Operating Procedures.

The Sub-Committee noted the recommended to Members that this report be noted and the attestation powers be reviewed further in 12 months’ time by December 2017.

Members noted that the report recommended that constable status continue, and remain under review for a further 12 months.

The Sub-Committee noted the update.