HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 c5W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 92, (1) at whose request officers of the Royal Parks constabulary were deployed in Trafalgar square on 15 June; [34960]

(2) under what powers officers of the Royal Parks constabulary were deployed on 15 June in Trafalgar square. [34961]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 2 July 1996]: Initially, officers of the Royal Parks constabulary were called to assist the Royal Parks constabulary inspector who was attacked in his car while driving through Trafalgar square on his way from Regent's park to St. James's park. They were later deployed in the square on different occasions throughout the day, at the request of the Metropolitan police, to help keep order between groups of rival fans in the area.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 92, if officers of the Royal Parks constabulary are fully insured against injury liabilities when assisting Metropolitan police outside of the area of the royal parks. [34962]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 2 July 1996]: The Government do not take out commercial insurance cover. An officer who is injured in the course of duty would be entitled to make a claim for compensation under the procedures that are available to all Royal Parks agency staff.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if officers of the Royal Parks constabulary deployed on 15 June in Trafalgar square had available to them arrest powers other than the common law powers available to other citizens; and if she will make a statement; [34958]

(2) pursuant to her answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 92, what is the territorial jurisdiction of Royal Parks constabulary officers outside the royal parks. [34959]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 2 July 1996]: No, they have no powers outside the parks that are not available to any other citizen.

The powers of a constable are conferred on officers of the Royal Parks Constabulary under the 1872 Parks Regulations Act. This gives them the same powers, duties and immunities of a constable in the same police district as the parks, but they can exercise these powers only within the royal parks.