The recent debates about safety and fear of crime in our parks and on our streets has generated a lot of media coverage. A Freedom of Information request to the Metropolitan Police for the London Gardens Trust members’ magazine, London Landscapes, shows crime against women in London’s Parks is falling; it still happens and remains a cause for concern. London Gardens Trust believes parks and public green spaces should be fully accessible, without fear, for anyone; regardless of sex, race, age, ability or sexuality. The more people using our open spaces, the safer they become for all. More can and should be done to ensure our parks are safe for all users. While the parks sector can make some improvement, this major issue can only be fully achieved through joined-up planning and the proper financing of parks and public green space by the UK Government and local authorities in partnership with communities.

Illustrative graph (c) Tim Webb, London Gardens Trust.