Does that sound too good to be true? Not really because they are organised and responsible people who care. They listen and help people on the street in the evenings and even in the small hours of the morning. They wear a recognised uniform - baseball cap, shirt, jersey, or fleece - when on duty. They work in partnership with all the community services, and aim to be trustworthy friends to all.

The movement was started in London by inner-city churches in 2003 in response to increasing crime. The project is approved by the Home Office and New Scotland Yard and has grown to nearly 2,000 pastors in 100 towns and cities. We even have a group of nearly 20 in my little market town of Heathfield, in Sussex, sponsored by Churches Together in Heathfield last year. In fact it was the first rural project ever in the UK.

People who volunteer for the job are concerned for society and work together with church and community leaders and agencies and projects working on issues affecting your and initiatives that will build trust. Their role is not to preach but listen, care and help. Street Pastors operate through the Ascension Trust, each pastor must be over 18, a church member with special training. I understand that Moslems too, are interested in the project.

I do not have any information about the inner cities, but our local group is on first name terms with many of the local youths; sometimes young girls are escorted home, and householders appreciate their presence. And on one occasion as the usual group of four pastors turned a corner it appeared that a fight was about to take place. It didn't - thought to be due to the their presence!

John Hall © 2009

Picture from timabbott at Flickr, Creative Commons licence.