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Dept for Culture Media and Sport;Royal Parks Agency

Answer

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the legal basis of the power of arrest of officers in the Royal Parks Constabulary. [15655] Dr. Howells: Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency and I have asked its Chief Executive, William Weston, to reply. Letter from William Weston to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 19 November 2001: I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Question about where the powers of arrest of the Royal Parks Constabulary derive from, because this is an operational matter which is the responsibility of the Royal Parks Agency. The Royal Parks Constabulary originated as park-keepers appointed to maintain order in the Royal Parks. The position of park-keeper was replaced with that of Park Constable with the passing of the Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1974, which amended the Parks Regulation Act 1872. Section 7 of the 1872 Act (as amended) gives Park Constables the same powers, privileges and immunities and makes them liable to the same duties and responsibilities, as any police constable in the police district within which the park is located. Park Constables therefore have the same powers of arrest within the parks where they operate as do ordinary police constables in the surrounding police district. These powers of arrest derive from the common law, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and many other statutes.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

375 c21W; 15655

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Arrests Police Powers Royal parks Royal Parks Constabulary

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk