Twickenham and Teddington MP Munira Wilson asks Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for "assurances" that police numbers in the area will not drop after the Royal Parks Police shut at the end of the year.

During the House of Commons questions to the Home Office on 24 February 2025, the Twickenham MP sought guarantees from Cooper that Bushy Park and the surrounding area will be safe as the Met Police look to cut the park unit due to funding shortfalls.

Wilson said: "Antisocial behaviour is not just a problem in our town centre, but also in our parks and that's why my constituents are extremely concerned about plans to axe the specialist Royal Parks Policing Unit and subsume it into community support teams given that the 450 million pound shortfall that the Met Police faces.

"This means Bushy Park in my constituency will undoubtedly get less police coverage so what assurances can the Home Secretary give my constituents that they won't see fewer police officers in our communities and our parks?"

MP Munira Wilson in the House of Commons on 24 February 2025 (credit: Parliament TV).

Cooper, MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, replied: "This Government is clear we need to get more police back on the beat.

"We have seen the number of PCSOs halved over the last 10-15 years.

"We have seen a big drop in the number of neighbourhood police officers on the beat and that is why we are increasing neighbourhood policing with an additional 200 million pounds investment in neighbourhood policing next year, part of up to 1.1 billion (pounds) additional funding for police forces across the country next year."

According to BCC, the Met Police will receive around £3.8 billion in funding for this year and next, which is an increase of 7% from 2024.

Still, the force faces a budget shortfall of around £260 million.

News that the Royal Parks Police, which patrol Richmond and Bushy Parks, could be disbanded due to budget cuts broke in December last year.

Alongside local MPs, Richmond Borough councillors have also campaigned against the Royal Parks Police disbandment.

The Royal Parks Police, made up of 77 officers, patrol the Royal Parks, addressing issues from wildlife protection to more serious crime.

Currently, there are seven police officers dedicated to Richmond and Bushy Parks.