Well – Haringey Council’s plans for our parks and open spaces – which include a proposal to disband the Haringey Parks Constabulary – are in full swing. This is despite the massive concerns about young people and knife crime and Met Police statistics that indicate there were over 700 offences in parks and open spaces in Haringey over a one-year period. Ten dedicated Constables are to be made redundant.

My local Liberal Democrat councillor colleagues have proposed a fully costed, practical alternative to these cuts, which instead builds on the work of the Parks Constabulary, meets the needs of residents for safe, secure and green open spaces and will ensure that Green Flag status is not threatened by Labour cuts.

We propose keeping the Parks Constabulary, appoint dedicated Park Wardens and continue the role of the Parks Police securing council buildings and Alexandra Park. This would avoid the unnecessary and expensive tendering out of these last two functions – and the risks associated with private security companies.

That would provide some savings to help fund our plans, with the rest coming from cutting out one of the Council’s spin-doctor posts, the inspector post in parks police and Labour’s “nanny state” parenting advisor. What we’d get instead would be far, far better.

Our plans would also integrate the Parks Police into Safer Neighbourhoods Team, allowing our parks to benefit from close coordination between both these groups of people who are essentially doing the same thing – fighting crime.

If you want to join the campaign to save the Parks Police you can sign our petition at ourcampaign.org.uk/parkspolice