Westminster View: On the streets with the Street Pastors - 12th February 2009
Since last April Chelmsford has been blessed by the activities of a group of dedicated Street Pastors who patrol the centre of the town every Friday and Saturday night between 10pm and 4am offering help and aid to anyone who gets into trouble after a night out on the town.
Street pastors are Church leaders or members of congregations from over 20 churches in the town who share a concern for society and particularly – but not exclusively – young people who have found themselves disenfranchised and/or marginalised from society or who get themselves into trouble after a night out due to excessive drinking, taking of drugs or due to any other problem they encounter.
The Street Pastor’s main role is to make themselves available to care, to listen, support and help people, especially young people who are troubled. The work of the Street Pastors has been reflected in a reduction in street crime in those areas where they work. In Lewisham there was a 30% reduction in street crime in the first 13 weeks that they were operating, in Camberwell a 95% reduction and in Peckham 74%.
In Chelmsford they have made an immediate and significant impact. On any given Friday or Saturday night the centre of Chelmsford is teeming with up to 15,000 people visiting the numerous clubs and pubs. However during that time, and especially at closing times, there can be tension and problems. That is when the specially trained and committed Street Pastors come into their own. Operating in teams of four or five, and working in conjunction with the doormen and CCTV operators, they patrol the centre of the town from the Ship pub in Broomfield Road to Smiths in Moulsham Street and Chicagoes and Dukes in the High Street. Their aim is to look out for those in trouble and offer comfort and practical aid like assisting those the worse for wear from excessive alcohol or use of drugs, finding taxis to get people home or helping to defuse an argument. They carry out their duties professionally and without fuss and I was immensely impressed by the number of people who praised them, telling them how much they were appreciated for what they were doing and to carry on the good work.
Last Friday I was fortunate enough to have been invited to join them to see at first hand how they operate and carry out their work. It was deeply impressive. In what was a very cold night they patrolled the centre of town for 6 hours, meeting many people – sometimes just to chat, sometimes to offer immediate help and aid like calling an ambulance for someone in need or providing flip-flops to young women who’s feet ached from hours of dancing in high heeled shoes! Always patient and always courteous they went about their task in a low-key but effective way. At the same time they were constantly on the look out for glass bottles to remove from the streets to avoid anyone transforming them into lethal weapons.
It was a privilege to be with the Street Pastors. Their work is fantastic, they never ask or seek thanks even though they more than deserve it and they fulfil a badly needed service within our community. We are indeed blessed to have them in our community.
