News that the Royal Parks Police, which patrol Richmond and Bushy Parks, will be disbanded due to funding cuts has been circulating recently.

Despite campaigns, including by local Lib Dem MPS, against the disbanding, it has been revealed that the Royal Parks Police could be disbanded at the end of the month or early February.

The Lib Dems want to 'stop police cuts, fund the police and protect the park' (credit: Image supplied).

Speaking about the matter, Teddington RNLI's Matt Allchurch, who also sits on the Bushy Park safer parks committee told Nub News: "We've been told the MPS are likely to disband the parks police presence across all Royal Parks including Bushy and Richmond parks.

"This could be as soon as the end of January or early February. Currently the parks police patrol Bushy Park twice a day spending at least an hour each visit.

"Their presence is a significant crime deterrent without which our parks will be less safe."

A note from Inspector Nick McLaughlin to the safer parks panel reads: "You may have seen news circulating in the press standard article about the possible cessation of The Royal Parks OCU police unit.

"I totally appreciate that this proposal will not be welcome news, and many of you may have questions. 

"Presently all we know locally is that due to a significant funding shortfall for the forthcoming MPS budget there are proposals that could result in this unit being disbanded, and along with others see officers redistributed to other parts of the MPS.

" I hasten to add that no definitive plans have been announced as yet, and that discussions regarding funding continue.

"What I do know is that no police officer will be made redundant, and that it will be business as usual within the Royal Parks OCU until we are told otherwise."