Park police want power to fine by-law breakers

Royal Parks chiefs are pressing for a change in the law to allow police officers to issue on-the-spot fines to people breaking by-laws.

It would mean cyclists caught riding in forbidden areas of the eight Royal Parks, dog owners who fail to clear up after their pets and people lighting fires or even playing musical instruments could be hit with a £40 or £60 fine.

The proposal is backed by the Met. Currently transgressors can only be prosecuted through the courts, a longwinded and costly process. Most offenders are simply given a ticking off, said a police spokesman.

Yet the Met, which has been responsible for policing the open spaces since 2006, has long been allowed to issue fixedpenalty notices to people breaking minor regulations elsewhere in the capital.

It emerged today that Mark Camley, chief executive of the Royal Parks Agency, has written to Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, asking him to extend the scheme into the parks.

Mr Camley said: "At the moment if cyclists use pedestrian footpaths the case goes to the magistrates' court. The process takes around seven months. We've applied to change current legislation to enable us to give out on-the-spot fines for cyclists who are not using designated areas."

The fines could also be imposed for more arcane breaches of park by-laws, including stealing eggs from birds nests.

Offenders would be issued with a penalty notice on the spot but would have a fixed period to pay the fine.

A Royal Parks spokeswoman said: "It would cut down on the paperwork and speed up the process. We think it would improve the parks for everyone." A spokesman said Scotland Yard had been looking into the idea for some time.

He added that police would publicise any change in the law widely before they began fining people.

At the moment troublemakers who are prosecuted successfully through the magistrates' courts can be fined up to £200, but cases rarely get this far.

The eight Royal Parks are Regents Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, St James's Park, Greenwich Park, Bushy Park and Richmond Park.

The rules would also apply to Brompton Cemetery, Victoria Tower Gardens and Grosvenor Square Gardens which come under Royal Parks jurisdiction.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice confirmed it had received Mr Camley's letter and was looking into the proposals.

NOT ALLOWED

Banned under Royal Parks by-laws

Demonstrations - including in the Mall and the area around Buckingham Palace

Landing a helicopter or aeroplane, except in an emergency

Dropping litter Cycling, skateboarding or rollerblading anywhere except on roads and designated areas

Failing to keep an animal under control

Allowing a dog to foul pathways or mown lawn areas

Riding, driving, cycling or skating in a dangerous manner

Driving off-road Lighting a fire or discarding a lighted match

Banned without written permission from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport:

Interfering with any plant or fungus

Stepping on flowerbeds

Selling or renting anything

Exhibiting notices or advertisements

Playing musical instruments

Camping or erecting a tent or gazebo

Washing or drying laundry

Radios

Discharging a weapon or projecting any missile

Collecting money

Making a speech, except for at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park

Putting on a play or a parade

Filming or taking photographs for commercial purposes

Fishing

Injuring or worrying animals or birds

Taking eggs

Boating or swimming in any water other than designated areas

Feeding or touching deer and pelicans

Riding animals except in designated areas

Towing or parking a caravan