Increased Security This Summer in Ealing's Parks

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Safety specialist to deal with low level crime in local open spaces

Community safety specialist, Parkguard, has been brought in by Ealing Council in an effort to make the borough’s parks safer this summer.

Park patrol officers began patrolling in late May, initially focusing on 12 of the busiest parks, including Walpole Park, Islip Manor Park and Acton Park, as part of a pilot scheme.

They will also be responding to incidents elsewhere as the need arises. The officers work to support Ealing police, park rangers and the community to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and make the parks safer places for everyone.

While on duty, park patrol officers travel in a marked vehicle and are accompanied by a patrol dog and on occasion a drugs search dog. The role of the officers is to provide a presence in the borough’s open spaces and respond to low-level incidents, such as underage drinking and drug use.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “Summer usually sees an increase in people making the most of our beautiful parks in Ealing. Unfortunately, this can also mean an increase in anti-social behaviour. We want to keep our open spaces attractive and welcoming, so I’m delighted we have been able to respond to the concerns of the community and invest in this new service. Parkguard has a good track record of success elsewhere and we look forward to seeing them do the same here in Ealing."

Park patrol officers will monitor Ealing’s parks throughout summer and on selected days in autumn, such as Halloween and Bonfire Night.

June 21, 2012