Pointing to the overwhelming success of Hackney’s Night Medics programme, today Zoë Garbett AM introduced a motion to the London Assembly to promote this public health approach to safety across all London boroughs.
First introduced in April 2022, the Hackney scheme builds on the Met’s Right Care Right Person model to transition police away from serving as the default first responder to mental health calls. [1] In turn, the scheme removes police officers from late night situations they shouldn’t be in, freeing them up to better serve local venues, communities, and Londoners throughout our city.
The motion was passed by the Assembly with 13 votes in support and zero votes against.
Green Party London Assembly Member Zoë Garbett said:
“If we are serious about a public health, people-first, and harm reduction approach to policing, the police cannot remain the default first responder to health calls late at night.
“The night medics programme in Hackney has proved tremendously successful, and I am encouraged to see my Assembly colleagues recognise the need to change how we respond to incidents in the night time economy. It is my sincere hope that with programs like this, Londoners can enjoy even more of what our city has to offer”
The full text of Zoë Garbett AM’s motion can be found here.