HC Deb 02 June 1921 vol 142 cc1238-9
98. Mr. GILBERT

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the districts of the L and M Divisions of the Metropolitan Police have recently been varied and extended in South London; will he state what is the reason for such variations; what are the present boundaries of each of these police districts; whether any extra policemen have been posted to each division as a result of the change or any new stations provided; and what is the number of present police stations affected by the change?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)

For administrative purposes, and in order to secure improved control and supervision, the boundaries of several of the Metropolitan Police divisions south of the River Thames have recently been varied. L and M divisions were two of the divisions affected. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the Police Order defining the present boundaries of these divisions. No extra police have been posted to the districts affected and no new stations are provided or contemplated, but there has been a redistribution of the officers and men, and the extension of L and M divisions has brought into them five police stations formerly in other divisions, namely, Deptford, Lavender Hill, Battersea, Clapham, and Battersea Park Road.

99. Mr. GILBERT

asked the Home Secretary whether all or any of the Royal parks in the Metropolitan Police area are policed by the Metropolitan Police; and will he give the names of the parks which are not policed and state why all the parks are not treated on the same basis from a police protection point of view?

Mr. SHORTT

Hyde Park is the only park policed by the Metropolitan Police. This is necessary on account of the large amount of traffic and the number and size of the public meetings held there. In the other Royal parks, namely, St. James's and the Green Parks, Kensington Gardens, Hampton Court Green, Bushey Park, Hampton Court Gardens, Regent's Park, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park, Hampton Court Park, Victoria Tower Gardens, Tower Gardens, the Office of Works find it quite satisfactory and much more economical to employ their own park-keepers.