BBQ Policy

The desire for outdoor cooking continues to rise, so Wandsworth Council and the Wandsworth Parks Police Service have issued a policy statement. Policy Statements are statements of intent issued in order to guide and advise Officers and Members of the public how to approach or expect officers of the Parks Police Service to approach and deal with particular situations.

The overall position to be applied is that NO BARBEQUES are to be allowed in or on the Parks, Commons or Open Spaces with the exception of events organised by the Parks Service or Events Team with professional caterers.

Should an officer come upon a situation where a Barbecue is lit or in the process of being lit and with no food having yet being placed on the barbecue the persons involved are to be advised to desist from their activity a recorded warning issued and the contact logged in the Parks Police daily occurrence log.Should an Officer come upon a Barbeque which is already lit and food is cooking thereon but the Barbeque is not causing damage or a nuisance, the persons involved are to be instructed to end the process as soon as possible and issued with a recorded warning and the contact logged in the
Parks Police daily occurrence log. Should an Officer come upon a Barbeque which is already lit and food is cooking thereon but the Barbeque is in a position likely to or having already damaged the ground or surrounding foliage or is creating a nuisance due to excessive smoke, the persons involved are to be instructed to end the process as soon immediately, full details are to be taken and submitted as an intended process for contravening the relevant by law where one applies. The contact is to be logged in the Parks Police daily occurrence log.In all instances the persons involved MUST be advised to remove/dispose of the burning coals/residue in a responsible manner and not to leave/deposit them in the surrounding bushes or on the grass and only in rubbish bins when they are completely extinguished and cold to the touch.

So, now you know!