The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997

[F1 Acts prohibited in designated parks E+W

3A.— (1) A constable who has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is doing, or is about to do, a prohibited activity may direct the person—

(a) to cease doing that activity; or

(b) (as the case may be) not to start doing that activity.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a “prohibited activity” is any of the following—

(a) operating any amplified noise equipment in a designated park;

(b) erecting or keeping erected in a designated park—

(i) any tent; or

(ii) any other structure that is designed, or adapted, (solely or mainly) for the purpose of facilitating sleeping or staying in a place for any period;

(c) using any tent or other such structure in a designated park for the purpose of sleeping or staying in that area;

(d) placing or keeping in place in a designated park any sleeping equipment with a view to its use (whether or not by the person placing it or keeping it in place) for the purpose of sleeping overnight in that area; and

(e) using any sleeping equipment in a designated park for the purpose of sleeping overnight in that area.

(3) But an activity is not to be treated as a “prohibited activity” within paragraph (2) if it is done—

(a) for police, fire and rescue authority or ambulance purposes;

(b) by or on behalf of a relevant authority; or

(c) by a person so far as that person has the prior written permission of the Secretary of State.

(4) In paragraph (2)(a) “amplified noise equipment” means any device that is designed or adapted for amplifying sound, including (but not limited to)—

(a) loudspeakers; and

(b) loudhailers.

(5) In paragraph (3)(b) “relevant authority” means any of the following—

(a) a Minister of the Crown or a government department;

(b) the Greater London Authority; or

(c) Westminster City Council.

(6) In this regulation “sleeping equipment” means any sleeping bag, mattress or other similar item designed, or adapted, (solely or mainly) for the purpose of facilitating sleeping in a place.

(7) No person may without reasonable excuse fail to comply with a direction under paragraph (1).

(8) For the purposes of the prohibited activities in paragraph 2(a) to (e), a “designated park” is any Park listed in paragraphs 1, 3A and 20 of Schedule 1.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Regs. 3A-3C inserted (28.3.2012) by The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/957), regs. 1, 2(2)