The Met Police has been urged to rule out cutting the police unit that protects the Royal Parks, as it faces a £450million budget gap.

The Met's chief revealed in December it could be forced to cut 2,300 police officers and 400 staff this year as it looks to plug the eye-watering gap.

Commissioner Mark Rowley said in a report specific teams, including the Royal Parks Police, could be slashed if the 'worst-case scenario' comes true to help balance the Met's budget for the 2025/26 financial year.

He wrote: "We are committed to making ourselves as lean as possible as an organisation, so we are first seeking to realise £100m worth of efficiencies.

"But the financial constraints we face in 2025/26 mean we will be forced to take tough choices to reduce the service we offer Londoners."

Lib Dem-run Richmond Council has now spoken out against the potential proposals concerning the Royal Parks Police, over fears the officers' skills could not be replaced.

The borough is home to two Royal Parks – Richmond Park and Bushy Park.

A motion from Council Leader Gareth Roberts, that will be tabled at a meeting on Tuesday (January 28), said: "[The] council views with concern the comments made by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in which he outlined his 'worst-case scenario' which included reductions to various specialist units and the cutting of the Royal Parks Police.

"[The] council believes the Royal Parks Police hold specialist knowledge, experience and expertise which would be impossible to replicate by other units within the Metropolitan Police.

"[The] council calls on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Mayor of London to ensure sufficient funding is provided to ensure the survival of the Royal Parks Police and to mitigate [the] impact on other services identified in the 'worst-case scenario'."

The motion will be discussed at the meeting, before the council votes on whether to formally make the demands to the Met Police and Mayor.

A Met Police spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "We have been clear on the financial challenges we face and continue to have productive discussions with the Mayor and Home Office to ensure we have the resources to police London effectively.

"As expected we are carefully planning for any tough choices we may have to make to ensure we live within the means of our future budget, but no final decisions have been made."

A Mayor of London spokesperson added: "The Mayor recently announced more funding for the police from City Hall and has also welcomed the additional funding from the Government.

"This will help to keep more police officers on the streets in London and to fund the unique responsibilities the Met has policing the nation's capital.

"The Met is still dealing with the terrible legacy left by the previous government, which massively cut funding for our police and public services over 14 years.

"The Commissioner is now looking at what the recent increase in funding from City Hall and the Government will mean for its budget.

"The Mayor will continue to work closely with the new government and the Met Commissioner – in the lead up to the spending review – on the additional national investment the Met needs to ensure we can continue building a safer London for everyone."