Once cherished as serene sanctuaries where families, couples, and workers found respite, many of London’s parks are increasingly becoming hotspots for crime, prompting growing concern over public safety. The Royal Parks charity, which manages over 5,000 acres including iconic green spaces such as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, has reported a near doubling of crimes within its domain over the past two years. In the 2023/24 period, 101 incidents of crime or criminal damage were recorded, compared with 76 the previous year, reflecting a troubling upward trajectory. Among the offences frequently reported are sexual assaults, phone thefts, drug dealing, and violent encounters, particularly involving cyclists and knife crime.

The situation has been exacerbated by budget cuts to the Metropolitan Police, which led to the disbanding of the dedicated Royal Parks Police Unit after more than 130 years of operational service. This specialised team, integral in maintaining order and safety within the parks, has now been absorbed into local neighbourhood policing teams. The Royal Parks charity and local community leaders have expressed disappointment over the decision, stressing that dedicated policing was crucial to safeguarding millions of annual visitors. There are growing fears that without this focused presence, the crime rate within these green spaces could continue to escalate.

Hyde Park, London’s most visited Royal Park attracting some 13 million visitors annually, has witnessed a series of disturbing incidents in recent years. Violent episodes range from a brazen handbag snatching attempt by a man on an e-bike near Hyde Park Corner, to a notorious 2021 attack where a man was chased and brutally assaulted by a gang wielding machetes, sustaining stab wounds. The park also saw a violent standoff during a ‘420’ cannabis-smoke event in 2019, which ended with a stabbing. According to Metropolitan Police data from April 2025, Hyde Park recorded the highest number of violent and sexual offences of any park in the area, with 76 incidents, alongside 66 drug-related offences and 64 reports of anti-social behaviour, underscoring the persistent challenges faced by law enforcement.

Similarly, Regent’s Park has become a locus of concern, with cyclists frequently targeted by violent thieves in daylight robberies. A high-profile case involved a cyclist whose £4,200 road bike was seized at hammerpoint. The pattern of threats and thefts prompted appeals to the Metropolitan Police to increase patrols, resulting in additional plainclothes and uniform officers being deployed before park opening times. Recent statistics show Regent’s Park suffered 57 violent and sexual offences and 54 incidents of anti-social behaviour, highlighting the ongoing struggle to maintain order in this celebrated but vulnerable urban green space.

Other parks across London have also faced alarming violence. Gladstone Park in Dollis Hill captured national attention after a knife-wielding attacker threatened a young girl in scenes caught on camera. Though the Metropolitan Police subsequently reported no injuries or arrests related to the incident, it sharply illustrated the risks present even in less central parks. Pennyfields Park in Tower Hamlets experienced a daylight attack where a man was assaulted and stabbed by a hooded gang armed with axes and machetes, though the victim’s injuries were thankfully not life-threatening.

The dark legacy of Fryent Country Park in Wembley also looms large, where in 2020 two sisters were murdered in a horrific stabbing linked to a Satanic cult pact. The case was further blighted by misconduct within the Metropolitan Police, when officers took and shared inappropriate selfies with the victims’ bodies, leading to their jail sentences. This tragic event remains a sobering reminder of the complex issues surrounding safety and police accountability in London’s parks.

Overall, the increasing frequency of violent crime in London’s parks is mirrored by wider citywide trends. The Metropolitan Police reported an astonishing 16,789 offences involving bladed weapons in 2024, averaging to roughly one every half hour, illustrating the scale of the knife crime epidemic. Local politicians, including Westminster Labour councillors and MPs, have campaigned to retain focused Royal Parks policing in light of rising crime figures, arguing that these green spaces are essential public assets requiring dedicated protection.

Visitors and residents alike are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour to police, as efforts continue to adapt policing strategies to the evolving threat landscape. With public safety in London’s parks at a critical juncture, stakeholders face the urgent challenge of balancing resource constraints with the need to foster secure, welcoming environments across the capital’s treasured green spaces.

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Source: Noah Wire Services