Ward Sergeant's Update

Right Care, Right Person was launched nationally on 26 July 2023 to ensure that people experiencing mental health, physical health, or social care needs receive support from the most appropriate service, with police involvement focused on situations involving crime, immediate risk to life, or serious harm.

The events of this week have reinforced the importance of mental health and wellbeing, reminding us that these issues can affect anyone at any time. Not only does it affect the individual involved, but it can also have a profound impact on their family, loved ones, friends, colleagues and even members of the public who are affected by or witness such events.

Most of us will have heard about the incident that occurred on Endell Street and in the immediate surrounding area on Wednesday this week, our thoughts are with all of those involved.  Closer to home, we experienced our own incident on Haverstock Hill on Monday, where officers from the Gospel Oak and Belsize Safer Neighbourhood Teams assisted a young female experiencing a mental health crisis.

Officers were flagged down by a member of the public who reported that a young female was sitting on a bench crying and appearing distressed.  Officers immediately approached the female and engaged with her in a calm and supportive manner.  It quickly became apparent that she was experiencing significant distress and following some prompt enquiries, officers established that she suffered from a number of mental health conditions.  The female had become lost whilst trying to make her way home to South East London and was unable to contact anyone as her mobile phone had run out of battery.  Through patience and reassurance, officers were able to calm her, charge her phone and contact her mother.  Officers then drove the female back to South East London, where she was safely reunited with her mother at home.  This incident highlights the positive difference that a simple act of compassion, patience and problem-solving can make when supporting someone experiencing a mental health crisis. 

A big thank you to the member of the public who initially stopped to help the young female and then approached officers to seek further assistance.  Your kindness, compassion and willingness to help made a real difference.  Sometimes a simple act of kindness can go a very long way and on this occasion it undoubtedly did.

Here’s what your Safer Neighbourhood Team has been up to this week

The team has been short on the ground this week due to annual leave, sickness and training. Despite this, officers have remained proactive and committed, successfully progressing investigations, safeguarding vulnerable individuals and continuing to deliver visible policing across the ward.

From the team and me, have a great weekend. 

All the best

Mark