A CALL by 2,000 residents to save parks police from the axe has been dismissed.

Campaigners say the 14 officers, who only have powers of arrest in parks, are trusted and have important links with the community.

A petition signed by 2000 people across the borough forced councillors to reconsider a plan to scrap the service and replace it with 14 Metropolitan Police Officers.

But councillors rejected the plea at a meeting on Thursday (May19).

Parks officer Ian Cranston questioned the wisdom of the move.

He said: “The community link is going to be destroyed for a start.

“It took us years to build up that trust and rapport.” “Where are [the police] going to be when the Olympics are on?

“There will be more serious issues they will be faced with. I think the parks will go downhill.”

Cllr Shoaib Patel, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said the new police officers, which will be equally funded by the Met and Redbridge Council, represent a good deal for taxpayers.

He said: “This is excellent news for Redbridge - we have increased the number of police without spending any extra money.

“It will guarantee that there is always a police officer in each park and they will have more powers to tackle crime than the parks police have.”

But Barbara Edwards, who organised the petition, remains convinced that the wrong decision was made.

She said: “I think the council had actually made up their minds anyway so all the arguments were pointless.

I don’t think it really is in the interest of the borough and the morale of the staff is so low now.”