Royal Parks, London

After several refusals for geocaching on their London Parks and then lobbying by a London cacher, I was invited for a meeting with their Deputy CEO, Head of Policy and a Sergeant from the Met Police.

They listened to the background and descriptions of geocaching and also to details of other landowner agreements eg NT and Met Police.

Unfortunately they felt that the proximity of the Parks to high security targets such as Government, Embassies and individuals would mean that geocaching in the parks would result in reports of suspicious behaviour and more "Stop and Searches".

They have therefore refused permission for caching in their parks.

[Dave Gerrie]

I don't feel the need to comment on the ban itself, but it did cross my mind that Geocaching seems to have been mentioned quite a bit in the press recently. In particular, there have been articles in magazines, TV programs, and radio features. I wonder whether any of those journalists would be interested in a follow up story showing how we have permission from various LARGE land owners, and yet the RP have unilaterally banned it in tourist central...

To quote a well known supermarket for the second time in two days - "Every Little Helps"...

[Mr Blorenge]

That is an interesting idea. All the articles so far I've read have been very interesting but usually only about how the game is played. London local TV news may be intereseted in an article relating it to the upcoming Olympics and security - one of the reasons given by the RP.
Chris (MrB)

[Happy Humphrey]

Originally Posted by Mancunian

Sorry but I didn't confirm anything, I just explained what happened in the Run up to the Face to Face Meeting.

The fact that you confirmed that local managers were giving permission for caches just over a year ago rather contradicts the "longstanding policy" statement. It has to be less than a year old, unless the CEO is admitting that the policy is not known to the local managers. And I don't see that as long-standing.

But I take your point that you didn't explicitly confirm anything, and that it's a matter of opinion whether 12 months is regarded as long-standing.