Category: Police > Parks Police

These three plug-in hybrid vehicles were new to Epping Forest in September 2019. They feature flashing lights that can show amber or blue depending on use. The vehicles can travel up to 28 miles on electric-only, fitting in with the peaceful nature of the park. Thanks to Mitsubishi for this information.

Some examples of the off road motorbikes used by the parks police service in Havering. The fleet is maintained by Essex Police despite them being owned by the London borough of Havering. The bikes carry various life-saving equipment including defibrillators, life ropes, first aid kits, folding tools and light cutting equipment.

This is the only four-wheeled vehicle operated by the small constabulary based in the North East London borough. The unit has been in operation in its current form since 2016 when its powers were extended. They also operate two off road motorbikes. This image depicts the livery on the same Ford Ranger prior to the 2016 changes. The Parks Protection Team vehicle did not mention 'police' or 'constabulary' on the vehicle. The light bar displays the wording 'parks' and the council crest was used on the bonnet.

Emergency equipment trailer

New to the relaunched parks and events police service in Wandsworth in 2016.

This car was new to the small London constabulary in 2015. As well as being used for patrolling the heath, it carries first aid equipment including a defibrillator. This is important because the ambulance service often struggle to access the heath and then can find it difficult to navigate. The light bar has been customised to show a single blue light at night so people can see it is a police vehicle from a distance in total darkness.

This 2011 dog unit is used to patrol the heath. The slogan of 'Policing Hampstead Heath' has been added to the front and rear because some people aren't sure what constabulary means.

Kew Constabulary Honda Accord. This car has a simple livery of green checkers over the silver bodywork. It is a low profile vehicle to fit in with the tranquil Kew Gardens in South West London. It is not fitted with any emergency warning equipment and is the only vehicle operated by the small historic constabulary that looks after the 300 acre gardens. Kew is part of the Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Parks Police Service Dacia Duster. The Parks Police Service was formed by a merger of Kensington and Chelsea with Hammersmith and Fulham parks police. The service consists of 30 constables (with five sergeants and an inspector) covering 90 parks and open spaces in the two London Boroughs. KW63 CRZ Parks Police Service Dacia Duster, sister vehicle to VCJ.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Constabulary (now Kew Constabulary) can trace their history back to the start of Kew Gardens. It was originally policed by the Metropolitan Police, but this changed after 1902. Ex-soldiers from the Boer War were recruited to work as gardeners from 6am to 1pm and constables from 1pm to 4pm. At this point in time, William Aiton was the Head Gardener in charge of policing. Inspector Thwistleton Dwyer was instrumental in developing the service into a regular police force. His strict approach helped professionalise the body of men carrying out duties such as gate keeping, museum security and general paroling. Police Sergeant Frederick Albert Ball. In 1977 he controlled five corporals and 34 constables in Kew Gardens. He reported to Honorary Inspector S Brookes and had a keen interest in the force's history. Sergeant Ernest Killick started work at Kew on Monday 14 November 1983 and was placed in charge of the constabulary. He had recently retired from North Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary (now part of North Yorkshire Police) after 30 years service. He took up residence in the gardens with his wife. Head of Security Bob Potter with Constable Edward Ryan in 1995. Bob joined Kew in 1995 to take up the new role of Head of Security which included looking after the Constabulary. He was a Detective Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police until he retired in 1994. Constable Ryan can be seen riding a new mountain bike, introduced to be faster than the previous generation of bikes. He does not have any cycle-specific clothing. Constable Denis Longley worked at Kew from 1953 to 1997. When he started in the Constabulary he was paid £7 per week for working 51 hours. His duties included collecting money on the gates as well as keeping the peace. In the first part of his career there was no transport for the constables. Later came the introduction of bicycles. He is photographed here with his trusty bike on the eve of his retirement. Images used with kind permission of The Kew Guild

Constable William Thompson is seen here guarding a cannabis plant as part of an exhibition at Kew Gardens. He is wearing the everyday uniform of the body of constables, including a Stockman hat. The uniform is very similar to the one that gardeners wear. The crest on the left breast bears the previous name of the service, the Royal Botanic Gardens Constabulary, with the current name written below. Kew Constable Adele Cox is seen here carrying two cannabis plants for the same exhibition. She is wearing the blue shirt with short sleeves that carries the same force crest. Images: RBG Kew

Wandsworth Events Police (formerly Wandsworth Parks Police) Mercedes Vito and Ford Transit Connect used for policing large events in places such as Battersea Park.

New in 2012 to the Met Police's Parks OCU is this Hyundai i30. It has a spotlight on the roof for use in unlit parkland. Another view of the car. Another view of the car. Another view of the car.

This is a Suzuki DRZ 400 SK5 trials bike that is used by the London Borough of Redbridge Parks Police Service. It is not fitted with any emergency warning equipment. The bike is a 400cc model and was new when the police service was formed in 2006. The motorbike alongside its sister vehicle.

This silver Ford Transit is used by Redbridge Parks Police. It carries a simple blue chequered pattern down the sides and “Parks Police” wording. The view from the rear, highlighting the tinted windows and additional brake and indicator lights on the roof. A close up look at the light bar. Blue and amber lights can be switched on independently. The service are not trained to use blue flashing lights when on the public highway and the van is not fitted with a siren. Also shown is an interior view of the rear. Some seats have been removed to allow a motorbike to be carried. The wood is used as a ramp. In this action scene the Transit is seen in use alongside a Parks Police 4x4 to assist the ambulance service in transferring a patient from an ambulance to London’s air ambulance.

Redbridge Parks Police have two if these marked-up Specialized mountain bikes for patrolling the parks and open spaces in their borough.

This Ford Ranger is with Redbridge Parks Police. It is fitted with a full-width light bar and searchlights to the front and rear.

This silver VW Golf is operated by Hammersmith and Fulham parks constabulary in London. It carries an amber light bar and a simple livery.

This is a VW Transporter in silver that is used by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham's Parks Constabulary. It has police-style blue and white checkers down the sides and is fitted with an amber light bar on the roof.

This is a VW Caddy that is sitting alongside the above VW Transporter. The Caddy carries the same Hammersmith and Fulham livery with the exception of the checker band down the sides.

This Wandsworth Parks Police dog unit is a Ford Transit Connect that has been specially adapted to carry dogs in the rear. The rear and side views of the same van.

This parks police Ford C-Max is driving down a narrow path amongst trees as part of its patrol.

This is a Ford Transit Connect used by Wandsworth Parks Police in London. This van is not fitted with any emergency warning equipment and is used by support officers on non-urgent duties. The rear view of the Transit Connect. The rear portion of the van can be used for carrying large number of road cones or even a dog.

New in the summer of 2008 is this Ford C-Max for Wandsworth Parks Police. It is decked out with a single band of battenburg and clear 'parks police' wording. The rear view of the C-max, showing its high visibility markings.

This Ford Transit Connect is used by Haringey Parks Constabulary in North London. It is used to carry police dogs. The rear view of the Ford.

This is a Ford Focus estate also used by Haringey Parks Constabulary to carry police dogs. This vehicle also carries the crest and badge of the Metropolitan Police on its rear windows.

NFM 115E to NFM 118E are shown in this photo of Liverpool Parks Constabulary Morris Mini Vans from 1967. The force was formed in 1860 and terminated in 1972.

This is a 2003 Nissan Terrano used by Hampstead Heath Constabulary to patrol the heath.

This Ford Transit Connect TDCI is used by Hampstead Heath Constabulary to carry officers and dogs. Note the floodlight on the roof of the vehicle. The rear view of the van showing its high visibility marking and police dogs warning.

This Vauxhall is run by Hammersmith and Fulham Parks Constabulary. It has non-police looking red and white checker markings and an amber light bar on the roof. Small writing tells you that they are working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police.

This silver Vauxhall Zafira DTI is operated by the Metropolitan Police's Royal Parks OCU. With the abolition of the Royal Parks Constabulary, the Met have taken over this role. The Vauxhall carries the same livery as regular Met cars, but with the addition of a roof-mounted flood light. The rear view of two of the Zafiras in the Royal Park's fleet. The Royal Parks Constabulary was abolished as part of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

This Mercedes Vito was new to Wandsworth Parks Police in January 2006. Prior to this it was a police demonstrator with Mercedes. It proved successful in increasing police orders of the vehicle, and so was sold off when it was one year old. The side view of the same Vito, showing its smart single waistband of battenburg marks. All the 'parks police' signs are magnetic until it gets its permanent livery. The rear view of the van showing the prisoner cage. The same Mercedes Vito at night.

This silver Nissan X-trail is the only vehicle run by Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police. It is fitted with a full-width roof light bar and additional blue flashing lights behind the front grille and on the front wings. Up the sides are a single tall band of battenburg markings. The rear view of the same Nissan. The car is equipped with a video surveillance camera to the front and an LPG conversion. It is used to drive around and between parks in the London borough.

This Vauxhall Astra estate is a dog patrol vehicle with the Royal Parks Police. Notice the illuminable 'police' sign on the front bumper.

This Ford Transit is used by Wandsworth Parks Police to patrol the parks and streets in the London borough of Wandsworth. The rear view of the LPG-powered Transit, shown here with blue lights flashing.

This Renault Kangoo is used by Wandsworth Parks Police as a dog patrol. It has two cages in the back for police dogs.

Here is a Land Rover Defender and a Mitsubishi 4x4 belonging to Edinburgh's Queen's Royal Park Ranger Service.

This is a Vauxhall Astra estate used by the Royal Parks Police in London. Notice how the front number plate has been moved to accommodate the dot matrix sign. The rear view of the same car. It is powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine, but can also been run on LPG.

This is a short wheel base petrol powered Ford Transit. The side and rear view of the same van. The vehicle has a sparse livery.

This Honda CB400N belonged to the Royal Parks Constabulary when this photo was taken in 1984. It is at Regent's Park, but the motorbike was used at Greenwich Park from 1983-6. A further blast from the past is the Transit van in the background.

Jumping forwards 20 years, this is a Honda Deauville motorcycle belonging to Wandsworth Parks Police. The rear view of the same bike. Notice the 'Wandsworth Park' crest on the corporate green background.

This is a Renault Megane from Wandsworth Parks Police. It's green livery comes from the traditional Park colour, but due to occasional confusion with an ambulance vehicle this livery is being phased out.

This is a very rare police cycle from the Royal Parks Constabulary (London). It is a hybrid pedal / electric cycle called an Eco-Bike Enforcer. It is fitted with blue lights, a siren and decked out in black and white checker markings. Ideal for upholding the law in Hyde Park, this cycle has the unusual features of an ignition and battery gauge. It has a 200 watt motor, goes 15 mph unaided and has 21 gears.

This Ford Transit is a Wandsworth Parks Police prisoner van. It can carry four prisoners and five police officers.

Here is a Royal Parks Police Ford Escort estate, photographed outside of Buckingham Palace, London.