Scotland Yard has been criticised for failing to alert joggers and walkers to a rape in Regent’s Park.
A teenage jogger was dragged into bushes and attacked by a man with a “distinctive swaying gait” as she went for an early morning run on Saturday May 26.
The 19-year-old raised the alarm after the man ran off but one park user said police had failed to warn people of the danger. No one has been arrested.
Consultant Anna Maxwell, 39, a regular Regent’s Park walker, said: “This attack took place at 7am when the park is full of people taking exercise yet there has been no sign of an extra police presence, or any notices alerting us to the possibility that the park has become a dangerous place.
“If this had been a traffic accident there would have been a board appealing for witnesses. You do not want to scare people but you need people to be vigilant.”
Ms Maxwell said she tried to complain to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime but her email bounced back with a message that its inbox was “too full”.
She added: “Many of my neighbours are now seriously worried about using the park.”
Scotland Yard said officers returned to the park at 6.30am on Saturday, a week after the attack, to hand out leaflets and ask park users if they had seen anything suspicious.
A spokeswoman said patrols had been stepped up and anyone with concerns about the park should talk to the local safer neighbourhood team.
Police say they have several leads. They are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the suspect, described as black, about 20, of medium build,
5ft 7ins and with short, Afro-style hair.
He was wearing a blue or green T-shirt, possible with horizontal stripes, a baseball style cap of white and dark colour, dark jeans and white sport shoes.
Anyone with information should call the Westminster Sapphire Unit on 020 7321 8040 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
