Street pastors
Encyclopedia
Street Pastors is an interdenominational network of Christian charities operating across the UK and world wide.
Street Pastors is an initiative of Ascension Trust. Individual street pastors are Christian
adults with a concern for their community, who undergo 12 days of training in order to voluntarily patrol the streets of towns and cities at night, helping and caring for people in practical ways. The initiative began in the United Kingdom
and is now being operated in other countries.
Street pastors wear a blue uniform, with the term 'Street Pastor' visible in white. Street pastors work closely with councils and police in their local areas, but maintain an operational independence. Street pastors seek to maintain confidentiality so far as is legal, and do not have any powers of enforcement or arrest. Street pastors are expected to provide services unconditionally. The aim of Street Pastors is not to proactively preach or evangelise, but to provide a neutral and reassuring presence in local communities.
, south London, UK in 2003 by Rev. Les Isaac. It was based on a model from Jamaica in which individual churches joined together to take their values out onto the streets. Street Pastors is an initiative of the Ascension Trust, a registered charity established in 1993. The initial activities of street pastors in areas such as Lewisham
and Hackney
focussed mainly on confronting gang culture and the use of knives and guns. As Street Pastors started to operate in other areas of the UK, the initiative responded to other local issues, including anti-social behavior and drunkenness
.
By 2008 there were Street Pastors groups in 70 locations, with another 50 being established. the official website states that there are over 150 active groups.
In 2010 Ascension Trust devolved responsibility to oversee Street Pastors in Scotland to Ascension Trust (Scotland), a Scottish registered charity which has an office in Perth
, and whose first chairman is former police officer Sandy Scrimgeour.
In 2010 Michael Frost and others established the first Australian group in Manly, New South Wales
.
Street Pastors is also supported by 'Prayer Pastors', who do not patrol but who provide support to street pastors by praying for them and sometimes keep in touch with them by mobile phone.
Practical help provided by street pastors include handing out space blanket
s outside nightclub
s, and flip-flops to clubbers unable to walk home in their high heels; giving out water, chocolate for energy, personal alarm
s and occassionally even condom
s; carrying bus timetables; and ensuring the safety of vulnerable persons. Street pastors remove bottles and other potential weapons from the streets, in order to discourage violence and vandalism. They may also have access to sleeping bag
s stored in church buildings as a last resort.
Local police and ambulance services in areas such as Sutton, initially expressed concern that Street Pastors would increase violent incidents. However, many police services, in areas such as London and Scotland, have praised the scheme. Ascension Trust reports that reduction in crime figures have been recorded in areas where the Street Pastors initiatives have been operating, which have been confirmed by official police figures.
Politicians who have expressed admiration or support for the scheme include UK Prime Minister David Cameron
and Mayor of London Boris Johnson
.
Frank Soodeen of the pressure group Alcohol Concern has also praised the work of Street Pastors, for their work assisting drunken young people to get home safely.
A number of local Street Pastor groups have won community awards.
Whilst some individuals have reacted negatively, the general public response to Street Pastors has been markedly positive, even among those who have been observed being abusive to the emergency service
s.
Street Pastors is an initiative of Ascension Trust. Individual street pastors are Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
adults with a concern for their community, who undergo 12 days of training in order to voluntarily patrol the streets of towns and cities at night, helping and caring for people in practical ways. The initiative began in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and is now being operated in other countries.
Street pastors wear a blue uniform, with the term 'Street Pastor' visible in white. Street pastors work closely with councils and police in their local areas, but maintain an operational independence. Street pastors seek to maintain confidentiality so far as is legal, and do not have any powers of enforcement or arrest. Street pastors are expected to provide services unconditionally. The aim of Street Pastors is not to proactively preach or evangelise, but to provide a neutral and reassuring presence in local communities.
History
Street Pastors was founded in BrixtonBrixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, south London, UK in 2003 by Rev. Les Isaac. It was based on a model from Jamaica in which individual churches joined together to take their values out onto the streets. Street Pastors is an initiative of the Ascension Trust, a registered charity established in 1993. The initial activities of street pastors in areas such as Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
and Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
focussed mainly on confronting gang culture and the use of knives and guns. As Street Pastors started to operate in other areas of the UK, the initiative responded to other local issues, including anti-social behavior and drunkenness
Drunkenness
Alcohol intoxication is a physiological state that occurs when a person has a high level of ethanol in his or her blood....
.
By 2008 there were Street Pastors groups in 70 locations, with another 50 being established. the official website states that there are over 150 active groups.
In 2010 Ascension Trust devolved responsibility to oversee Street Pastors in Scotland to Ascension Trust (Scotland), a Scottish registered charity which has an office in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, and whose first chairman is former police officer Sandy Scrimgeour.
In 2010 Michael Frost and others established the first Australian group in Manly, New South Wales
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
.
Training and support for volunteers
Individual street pastors are Christians, over the age of 18, committed to a local church for at least one year, who pass an enhanced CRB check and who have a positive reference from their church leader stating that they would be suitable to be a Street Pastor and are leading a Christian lifestyle. They must complete 12 training sessions spread over a year, covering subjects including conflict management, counselling and basic first-aid.Street Pastors is also supported by 'Prayer Pastors', who do not patrol but who provide support to street pastors by praying for them and sometimes keep in touch with them by mobile phone.
Services provided
Street Pastors is designed to provide a reassuring presence in local communities. Individual street pastors seek to listen to and talk with people in their local community, to provide information on local agencies, help and services, and to discourage anti-social behaviour.Practical help provided by street pastors include handing out space blanket
Space blanket
A space blanket is a blanket used in emergencies to reduce heat loss in a person's body caused by thermal radiation, water evaporation and convection.-Manufacturing:First developed by NASA in 1964 for the US space program, the material consists of a...
s outside nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s, and flip-flops to clubbers unable to walk home in their high heels; giving out water, chocolate for energy, personal alarm
Personal alarm
A personal alarm is a small hand-held electronic device with the functionality to emit a loud siren-like alarming sound. It is activated either by a button, or a tag that, when pulled, sets the siren off....
s and occassionally even condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
s; carrying bus timetables; and ensuring the safety of vulnerable persons. Street pastors remove bottles and other potential weapons from the streets, in order to discourage violence and vandalism. They may also have access to sleeping bag
Sleeping bag
A sleeping bag is a protective "bag" for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where a bed is unavailable . Its primary purpose is to provide warmth and thermal insulation...
s stored in church buildings as a last resort.
Responses to Street Pastors
Ascension Trust did not initially seek official funding or support, in light of some communities' distrust of local police.Local police and ambulance services in areas such as Sutton, initially expressed concern that Street Pastors would increase violent incidents. However, many police services, in areas such as London and Scotland, have praised the scheme. Ascension Trust reports that reduction in crime figures have been recorded in areas where the Street Pastors initiatives have been operating, which have been confirmed by official police figures.
Politicians who have expressed admiration or support for the scheme include UK Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
and Mayor of London Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
.
Frank Soodeen of the pressure group Alcohol Concern has also praised the work of Street Pastors, for their work assisting drunken young people to get home safely.
A number of local Street Pastor groups have won community awards.
Whilst some individuals have reacted negatively, the general public response to Street Pastors has been markedly positive, even among those who have been observed being abusive to the emergency service
Emergency service
Emergency services are organizations which ensure public safety and health by addressing different emergencies. Some agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies whilst others deal with ad hoc emergencies as part of their normal responsibilities...
s.
External links
- streetpastors.co.uk, official website
- Street Pastors on patrol in Birmingham, BBC News Feature (with interviews), February 2005