Barking and Dagenham’s parks police made 50 arrests in a year
The parks police with their Borough Recognition Award - Credit: Archant
Police made a total of 1,894 alcohol seizures in the borough’s parks and carried out 621 stop and searches, new figures show.
The figures, covering April last year to March this year, were released as the Barking and Dagenham Parks Police were presented with a Borough Recognition Award for their hard work at a ceremony in Barking Town Hall.
They show the Parks team, set up three years ago to tackle residents’ security concerns in the borough’s green spaces, also carried out 50 arrests for a variety of crimes including assaults, theft and carrying an offensive weapon.
Robberies
Among those arrested were two wanted men who had gone on the run and were found camping in Mayesbrook Park, a man who had stolen the park’s gates and a youth preparing to break into the BMX Club at Old Dagenham Park.
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Officers recorded 62 robberies and 253 drug offences across the borough’s 25 parks and open spaces.
Some 85 fines were handed out by police who issued 195 warnings for cannabis.
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Chief Inspector Richard Goodwin of Barking and Dagenham Police said: “My officers are dedicated to ensuring that the law abiding community can make use of green spaces without having their experience spoilt by a small minority of people who are involved in criminality and anti social behaviour. Since this team was launched on the borough, confidence and enjoyment has increased for park users and life has been made difficult for those choosing to commit crime.”
