Royal Parks has issued a stern warning to Londoners after multiple videos showed people feeding and touching deer in Bushy Park and Richmond Park. The park managers have called the behavior 'shocking' and 'highly dangerous,' urging the public to report any such incidents to the police.
Feeding deer is illegal and dangerous
In a strongly-worded statement, a Royal Parks spokesperson said: "The deer are wild animals, not pets. They are large, powerful and unpredictable. A red stag can weigh up to 200kg. Getting this close and offering food puts people at real risk of serious injury."
The spokesperson added: "Feeding the deer is illegal in all of the Royal Parks. It is harmful to both people and animals. Once deer learn to associate visitors with food, they will approach and pester them."
The warning follows a video of a group feeding deer in Bushy Park, and previous footage showing adults and children stroking deer in Richmond Park. Another clip showed a man using a large tree branch to move a stag away from his picnic.
Stay 50 metres away
Royal Parks is advising visitors to stay at least 50 metres away from deer and avoid touching them. If a deer approaches, put all food and packaging away and move away slowly and calmly.
The statement continued: "Richmond Park alone covers 2,500 acres. Our staff and volunteers do a great job of speaking to visitors, and we have signage across the park, but we cannot be everywhere at once."
"We need everyone who visits to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to keep themselves, other visitors and the deer safe. If you witness someone putting themselves, others or the deer at risk, please report it to the police."
Concerns over disbanded Royal Parks Police
The worrying clips have led some viewers to call for the reinstatement of the dedicated Royal Parks Police unit. The Metropolitan Police disbanded the unit in 2025 as part of cuts due to a £260m hole in its budget.
Richmond Council Leader Gareth Roberts expressed disappointment at the time, telling the Local Democracy Service: "At a time when residents are already concerned about the visibility of policing, this decision will do nothing to reassure them. The loss of the specialist policing team would leave them more vulnerable to crime and antisocial behaviour. This is a huge mistake."
Councillor Roberts said the parks need officers with specialist training and experience. Without the Royal Parks Police, responsibility for the vast open spaces will fall to overstretched local officers already managing high demand elsewhere.
