Met Police to Axe Royal Parks Unit

London's Royal Parks police, active since 1872, will be disbanded on November 1. This move, part of the Metropolitan Police's attempt to fix a £260m funding gap, will affect around 80 officers who currently safeguard green spaces like Hyde Park. Local police will now take over duties. The Royal Parks charity and local leaders warn of potential crime spikes in these vast areas, comparable in size to Heathrow and Gatwick combined. Amidst rising crime figures, there's concern that stretched resources might not effectively cover public safety.