Met Officer Greener Helps Families Off Freezing Streets

A Metropolitan Police officer has been recognised for her efforts in assisting vulnerable families found in severe weather conditions. Trainee officer Amy Greener, aged 24, found a mother and her four children huddled in blankets outside a church in Lambeth in 2024. The mother had reportedly been asked to leave her partner in Peterborough and travelled to London seeking assistance. When she approached Lambeth Council, she was informed that they might be unable to help as she did not live within the borough.

Officer Greener and a colleague spent several hours contacting various charities and the council in an attempt to bring forward the family's emergency accommodation meeting, which was initially scheduled for days later. After three hours of calls, Officer Greener successfully arranged for the meeting to take place on the same day and transported the family to their appointment. The officer stated that the mother was cradling a tiny, unwell baby and expressed feelings of despair, saying she felt the best way to help her children would be to end her own life.

Second instance of assistance

On a separate occasion, Officer Greener encountered another desperate mother, aged 24, who had been sleeping on a park bench with her eight-month-old baby for two nights. Officer Greener took the mother and child to the police station and spent eight hours contacting councils and charities, many of which had already closed for the day. The officer noted that she initially thought it would be easier to get help for an infant but found it challenging to secure assistance.

The mother told Officer Greener that she felt the only way to get her baby help was to take her own life. Despite being informed that formal responsibility did not rest with the police, Officer Greener continued to offer support. Lambeth Council eventually agreed to provide emergency accommodation for the mother and baby for the night. A social worker was scheduled to assist in building a case for permanent housing in Peterborough.

Officer Greener reflected on the experience, stating that while it was a long shift, she felt she had made a difference. She added that kindness is easy to show and is the simplest approach when dealing with people and their emotions.