Conservative London Assembly Member for Bexley & Bromley Thomas Turrell AM has written to Sir Sadiq Khan’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, calling for fairer policing responsibilities during events at Crystal Palace Park.
In his letter, Thomas points out that since the Crystal Palace Park Trust assumed the lease in 2023, the number of events being hosted at the historic London park have increased significantly. Thomas welcomes these events, for providing vital funding for park maintenance and celebrating the local community, but sets out concerns that they have created an unprecedented strain on Bromley's neighbourhood policing teams.
Despite Crystal Palace’s unique position spanning five boroughs - Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham - and three Basic Command Units (BCUs), the entire policing burden for events currently falls solely on Bromley's Safer Neighbourhood Team officers, and disproportionately affects their resources as a result.
"This situation is simply unsustainable," said Thomas Turrell AM in a statement. "Our local officers are having their annual leave cancelled and are unable to patrol their allocated wards because they're being pulled into Crystal Palace Park for events that serve residents across five different boroughs."
The Assembly Member has proposed that policing responsibilities should be shared proportionally between the three BCUs and five borough neighbourhood teams that serve the area around Crystal Palace Park.
In his letter to the Deputy Mayor, Thomas offered to meet with Comer-Schwartz to discuss the matter further and even suggested a site visit to Crystal Palace Park to demonstrate the cross-borough nature of the location.
"Crystal Palace Park is a jewel in south London's crown, and I fully support the increased programming of events that bring communities together and generate much-needed revenue," Thomas continued. "However, we need a policing solution that recognises the park's unique geography and doesn't unfairly burden one borough's resources."
Thomas has requested that the Deputy Mayor's office raise the matter with BCU Commanders to ensure appropriate arrangements are made to support Bromley's neighbourhood police teams.
Crystal Palace Park, originally the site of the famous Crystal Palace exhibition hall, remains one of London's most significant green spaces and hosts numerous community events, festivals, and recreational activities throughout the year.
