Consultation on Proposed Tower Hamlets Byelaws

Introduction of Fixed Penalty Notices in Parks, Grounds and Open Spaces

 

Tower Hamlets Council has approached London Councils with a proposal to introduce fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for byelaw offences in parks and open spaces that are covered by Tower Hamlets Byelaws (see list of where this would apply below). 

The byelaws are enforced by Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers and are used to deal with unacceptable behaviour which is not addressed through other legislation, such as that which may cause distress or injury to other users of parks and open spaces or might damage these spaces and detract from their general enjoyment by the public.

At present if someone commits an offence under the Tower Hamlets Byelaws, they could be prosecuted through the Magistrates’ Court where the maximum fine that the court can impose is £500. The use of FPNs is considered a more appropriate way of dealing with less serious offences and Tower Hamlets Council can still consider prosecution through the courts for more serious offences.

The perceived benefits of this approach are as follows:

  • It will reduce Enforcement Officer time spent preparing cases for court.
  • It will increase officer time spent patrolling parks and open spaces.
  • It will reduce court time spent dealing with less serious offences.

This consultation asks if you support this proposal, and the level of penalty. 

The parks/grounds and open spaces that this would apply to under Byelaw 2 are:

 

Abbott Road Gardens

Island Gardens

Spitalfields Farm

Ackroyd Drive Open Space

Jesus Green

St Annes Churchyard

Albert Gardens

Johnson's Drawdock

St Bartholomews Gardens

All Saints Church Yard

Jolly's Green

St Dunstan's Churchyard

Allen Gardens

King Edward Memorial Park

St George's in the East

Allen Gardens Play Area

Kings Wharf

St James Gardens

Altab Ali Park

Langdon Park

St Johns Churchyard

Alton Street Open Space

Lenanton Steps

St Johns Park

Approach Road/Old Ford Road O. S.

Leven Road Open Space

St Matthews Church Garden

Arbour Square Gardens

Mallon Gardens

St Matthias Church

Archibald Open Space

Marsh Wall/East Ferry Road

Stepney Clock Tower

Bartlett Park

Mast House Terrace Playarea

Stepney Green Gardens

Baxendale Street Gardens

Meath Gardens

Stepney Green Park

Beaumont Square Gardens

Mellish Street

Stonebridge Wharf

Belgrave Open Space

Mercers Burial Ground

Stoneyard Lane Open Space

Bethnal Green Gardens

Middleton Green

Swedenborg Gardens

Bonner Hall Gate

Mile End Park

The Oval

Boundary Gardens

Millwall Park

Three Colt Street/Mitre Site

Bow Churchyard

Mudchute Farm

Tower Hamlets Cemetery

Braithwaite

Museum Gardens

Trafalgar Gardens

Bromley Recreation Ground

Paradise Gardens

Tredegar Square

Burdett Road Bus Terminus

Pennyfields Open Space

Trinity Gardens

Canrobert Street Open Space

Pollard Square

Trinity Square Gardens

Cantrell Road Open Space

Poplar High Street/Preston's Road

Twelve Trees Crescent

Carlton Square

Poplar Parkway

Vallance Road Gardens

Carlton Square Gardens

Poplar Recreation Ground

Vaughan Way Open Space

Cavell Street Gardens

Prospect Park

Victoria Park

Christchurch Gardens

Raines Mansions

Virginia Gardens

Cotton Street/Bazely Street

Ravenscroft Park

Wapping Gardens

Devons Road Ambulance Station - Grass Verge

Rectory Gardens

Wapping Green

Dockers Tanner Road

Rope Walk Gardens

Wapping Rose Gardens

Fern Street Open Space

Ropemakers Fields

Wapping Woods

Ford Square

Rounton Road Open Space

Warner Green Open Space

Furze Green Open Space

Royal Mint Square

Waterside Gardens

Glamis Adventure Playground

Schoolhouse Kickabout Area

Weavers Fields

Globe Road Open Space

Selwyn Green

West India Dock Road

Gosling Gardens

Shacklewell Street 1O'Clock Club

White Horse Lane Open Space

Great Eastern Slipway

Shacklewell Street Ball Games Area

Whitehorse Road Park

Grove Hall Park

Shandy Park

Wyvis Street Open Space

Hellings Street

Sidney Square Gardens

York Square Gardens

Ion Square Gardens

Sir John McDougal Gardens

 

 

In addition, the grounds referred in Byelaw 3(1) relating the opening times are:

 

Albert Gardens

Arbour Square Gardens

Bethnal Green Gardens

Carlton Square

Grove Hall Park

King Edward Memorial Park

Museum Gardens

Paradise Gardens

Poplar Recreation Ground

Tower Hamlets Cemetery

Tredegar Square

Trinity Square Gardens

Victoria Park

Wapping Gardens

Wapping Rose Gardens

York Square Gardens

 

The consultation will run for a period of six weeks from 19 December 2022 to 30 January 2023.

 

Respond to the Consultation