Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Unit

“Working to keep Enfield’s parks safe”
The Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Unit (SNPU) is dedicated to keeping the peace in Enfield’s parks and providing a reassuring presence for parks users.

The Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Unit, also known as the Parks Police is a unique partnership between Enfield Council and Enfield Police. It commenced in July 2005 to police the borough’s parks, open spaces, allotments and cemeteries. Its aim is to help prevent crime and the fear of crime, to assist in making the parks safe and welcoming places for the local community.

The partnership between Enfield Council and the Metropolitan Police is ground breaking in that Enfield Council has contracted with the Metropolitan Police to supply Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers dedicated specifically to patrol the borough’s parks and open spaces. The officers are all trained to a high standard, have the support of all Borough Police Officers and work closely with the local Safer Neighbourhood Wards. The unit also has access to other Metropolitan Police specialist resources such as the Mounted Branch, Traffic and the Dogs Unit.

Currently the Unit consists of:
1 Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Unit Manager
1 Part-time Inspector
1 Police Sergeant
2 Police Constables
15 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

The SNPU patrols seven days a week, generally from 10.00 to 22.00 hours in all weather on foot, bicycle and in police marked vehicles. The unit does work outside these hours when there is an identified need. Officers attend all quarterly Friends of Parks meetings.

The presence of highly visible uniformed officers helps to reduce anti social behaviour, vandalism, dog fouling and graffiti. The SNPU are authorised to:
• Enforce the Parks Byelaws
• Issue fixed penalty notices

New Dog Control Orders came into effect on the 14th of March 2009, which enable the Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Unit to issue fixed penalty fines of £80 for any offences against the orders.

The SNPU is tasked by the bi-weekly Safer Action for Enfield Partnership and are intelligence led proactively targeting areas identified as a concern. Intelligence is used to target patrols and those committing crime and acts of anti social behaviour. Since the Unit started, it has been very successful and made arrests for offences such as robbery of the person, burglary, theft, criminal damage, drug supply and possession.

To report incidents or to pass on information regarding anti social or criminal activity occurring in Enfield’s parks and open spaces please telephone the Council’s 24 hour Customer Service Centre on 020 8379 1000.

Allegations of crime must be reported direct to the police by visiting or telephoning your local police station or by visiting the Metropolitan Police website.

Should you require any further information regarding the Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Unit please telephone the SNPU office on 020 8345 4774. (Please note that this number is only an answerphone service and an officer will get back in touch with you as soon as possible but it is not to be used to report incidents.)

Incidents of a serious nature or requiring an emergency response should always be reported direct to the police via 999!

Useful Information
Dog Control Orders
Parks Byelaws

Useful Links
Safer Neighbourhoods Estate Unit
Metropolitan Police
Safer Neighbourhood Ward

This document was last updated on 2009-06-05 09:18:10 published by the Parks team. Document Reference:LBE_129097