Footage of hot weather bathing in the Model Boating Pond went viral online

AN influential civic group founded to help save Hampstead Heath from development during the Victorian era has called for people who mistreat the open space to face the full weight of the law.

Marc Hutchinson, chairman of the Heath and Hampstead Society, has called on visitors to treat the common land with respect – and warned its guardians, the City of London Corporation, that people who break the rules over swimming must be arrested.

He said: “The society understands the Heath Constabulary will take enforcement action where necessary, including issuing fines and making arrests. We call on everyone who visits the Heath to respect its rules, each other, and its wildlife.”

Some Heath users have told the New Journal that the City of London’s ticketing arrangements for designated swimming ponds, with online booking and the imposition of paid for tickets when it was traditionally free, had led to the recent scenes at the Highgate Model Boating Pond – where people dived into waters meant to be a protected space for swans, geese and ducks.

Mr Hutchinson added: “The society is aware of widely shared videos showing members of the public disturbing wildlife. Clear signage makes plain that bathing is prohibited. We condemn the actions of any person who causes harm or distress to the wildlife, any person who uses the Heath in an unsafe manner or makes the Heath an unpleasant or unwelcoming place for others.”

He added that by swimming in ponds without lifeguards, swimmers were putting themselves at risk.

“In times of extreme heat, it can be very tempting to use other ponds, but doing so is dangerous, poses significant risks to wildlife, and is a criminal offence which can result in a fine,” he said. “We share grave concerns about behaviour in videos shared online.”