Havering Council Hits Back: ‘It is not alarming as some make it out to be’ Amid Park Gate Locking Controversy”

Havering Council has faced questions and anger from some residents over park safety, but the authority has confirmed that park gates across the borough will not be locked at night. The decision comes after a review of data showing that only a small proportion of parks, about 25%, can even be locked, and anti-social behaviour incidents mostly occur during the day, not at night. Council leaders stress that the risk is not as alarming as some make it out to be, and they have robust measures in place to respond to any spikes in anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Barry Mugglestone, Cabinet Member for Parks, spoke exclusively to the Havering Daily and explained the reasoning behind the council’s decision:
“Parks and Open spaces, only about 25% of these can be locked and that has always been the case. There is no data to show there is any issues regarding not locking the park gates at night, and it would only be that 25% of those parks that could be locked, data of ASB in parks shows this is during the day, but saying that it is not alarming as some make it out to be.

If there was any spikes in ASB this would go to the JET team and plans would be put in place to deal with this.

There is more ASB in Town centres, hence why the HRA administration invested about 3 Million upgrading the CCTV in the Town centres and also continue to finance the S92 Police officers who combat Car crime and Burglary.

I am pleased to say that in the past four years we have been awarded 16 green flags for the Boroughs parks, and one of the criteria’s is how safe the parks are, and for information the London Borough of Havering was recognised as the Best London Borough in ‘London in Bloom’ for the third year running, that is something Havering has never achieved, and the Parks play a big part in ‘London in Bloom’.

The HRA has gone back to court to continue to keep the court injunction in place regarding any unauthorised encampment’s in our parks and open spaces.

I believe we have proven that we care about our parks and open spaces and will continue to do so.”

The council’s response makes clear that keeping park gates open at night is a measured decision based on safety data, while ongoing investments in CCTV, policing, and legal enforcement ensure residents can continue to enjoy Havering’s parks without compromise.

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