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  "path": "/2026/06/27/police-called-londoners-looking-cool-swim-wildlife-28946797/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-27T12:20:56.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "UK",
    "Heatwave",
    "London",
    "Covid-19",
    "New Year’s Eve",
    "London is so hot the pavements reached 57°C",
    "London department store engulfed in flames sending thick black smoke in the air",
    "Builders march up to Downing Street on hottest day in call to end violence against women",
    "London news hub",
    "The Standard",
    "check our news page",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "The Heath Constabulary arrive and people quickly get out (Picture: Alamy Live News)\n\nSwimmers looking to cool off in the heatwave are having police called on them for aggravating wildlife at Hampstead Heath.\n\nMore than a dozen swimmers were found on Friday in the nature pond, cooling off among the swans.\n\nThey had seemingly ignored the barbed wire and glaring signage erected by the City of London Corporation.\n\nHampstead Heath Constabulary and ParkGuard battled to bring them back to the land, but many Londoners are desperate to cool off as the city’s lack of free blue spaces mean many resort to breaking the rules.\n\nBefore Covid-19, the Hampstead Heath ponds used to be free with no booking required.\n\nLidos have also become oversubscribed, leaving little option for people desperate to escape the heat.\n\nAnd those in poorer areas suffer the most in heatwaves, as their access to green and blue space is limited.\n\nPeople swim in the hot weather despite ‘No Swimming’ signs erected (Picture: Gavin Rodgers/pixel8000)\n\nOn Collingwood Estate in Sutton, south London, residents say they are ‘cooking’ and suffering heat exhaustion with temperatures reaching 30C by 4am, they told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.\n\nThe Mayor of London announced he will improve access to these spaces in his ‘Heat Ready London’ plan.\n\nSir Sadiq **told Metro** : ‘It is not just an issue of the environment, but of social justice. In the 2022 heatwave, we saw 400 premature deaths, 4,000 going to A&E, extreme challenges to our public transport and big pressure of the fire service.’\n\nBut it is not just during the heatwave. Over New Years, watching fireworks at iconic spots became ticketed and commercialised.\n\nIt was only 12 years ago in 2014 when London’s New Year’s Eve firework display became ticketed for the first time.\n\n##  Latest London news\n\n  * London is so hot the pavements reached 57°C\n  * London department store engulfed in flames sending thick black smoke in the air\n  * Builders march up to Downing Street on hottest day in call to end violence against women\n\n\n\n_**To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro's** London news hub._\n\nPeople swim in the fully booked lido at Hampstead Heath (Picture: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)\n\nAnd popular free viewing spots such have started to be closed off to the public.\n\nPrimrose Hill, Parliament Hill, St James Park, Greenwich park and Vauxhall Bridge all close before the main event begins.\n\nThe City of London Corporation told The Standard: ‘As well as our own Constabulary, we’ve put additional security and patrols in place across the Heath, particularly around the Lido and Model Boating Pond.\n\n‘Entering any other water body is extremely dangerous and risks both lives and wildlife.\n\n‘We want all visitors to enjoy their time on the Heath, and we’re asking everyone to behave responsibly, and respect the space and those who care for it.’\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Police called after Londoners looking to cool down swim with wildlife"
}