The Parks Police Service is a small constabulary responsible for policing 87 parks and open spaces in the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham. The police force was created through the merger of Hammersmith and Fulham Parks Constabulary and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police in 2013.
Members of the constabulary are sworn as constables under section 18, Ministry of Housing and Local Government Provision Order Confirmation (Greater London Parks and Open Spaces) Act 1967. Such constables have the powers of a constable to deal with by-laws relating to parks and open spaces under their control. Hammersmith and Fulham parks constables have no powers over and above that of an ordinary citizen to deal with criminal law and should not be confused with police officers.
Parks Police Service is currently staffed by: 1 x Police Inspector, 5 x Police Sergeants & 30 x Constables.
The responsibility for policing the parks remains the statutory responsibility of the Metropolitan Police Service, who have the legal power to instigate proceedings against breaking criminal law, which parks constabularies cannot do.