London's Night Czar visits Hackney

I was delighted to welcome London’s first Night Czar Amy Lamé to Hackney on Friday night.

The visit took place as part of Amy's Night Surgeries during which she visits different boroughs to talk to night time workers, emergency service personnel, residents and revellers.

On Friday, we visited Hackney Winter Night Shelter, Homerton A&E, Shoreditch Fire Station and various bars and clubs along Kingsland Road. Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville also joined for part of the evening.

Hackney is a truly 24 hour borough, with so much going on. We spoke to small business owners concerned about the rates hike, volunteers worried about Hackney's homeless, and brave service personnel who work through the night to keep us safe.

It was about listening to all those groups and understanding what they want from the Capital at night.

Night Czar, Amy Lamé, said: "Hackney's night time economy is as diverse as you can get. I really enjoyed talking to local residents and business owners about what they want from the capital at night. From the buzz of Kingsland Road to the essential work of the emergency services at Homerton A&E and Shoreditch Fire Station, it is little wonder that this corner of the capital has become a hub of night time culture."

Since becoming Night Czar last November, Amy has held Night Surgeries on the Piccadilly Line and in Kingston as well as the one last Friday in Waltham Forest and Hackney. These night surgeries are ways to connect with business owners, night time workers, emergency service personnel, residents and revellers - to see what they want from their city at night. Amy will be holding further night surgeries throughout the year.

Photograph: Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney, Amy Lame, Night Czar, Meg Hillier MP, Hackney South and Shoreditch, Dan Beaumont, Dalston Superstore.