12:00pm Saturday 20th June 2009
Vicars will take to the streets of Hounslow on Friday nights to try and help police tackle urban problems.
Church leaders will join volunteers of all ages from their congregations to offer support to vulnerable people, which could include walking a girl on her own to a late-night taxi or reassuring someone who feels intimidated.
The scheme will be launched at the Civic Centre on July 7 in a ceremony attended by the mayor of Hounslow, as well as representives from Hounslow police and churches across the borough, before the street pastors begin a special training course.
Alison Murray, of Street Pastors, said: “They have to go to Balham to train and they will do things like sociology, education, drug awareness, mental health issues, probation and mentoring.
“They will help anybody they meet, it’s about caring, sharing, listening and helping, it’s not a preaching role.”
The dedicated inter-denominational group, made up of members from different Christian churches, have committed themselves to be on Hounslow’s streets in their recognisable uniforms on Fridays from 8pm until midnight.
They will begin their training in September and are due to have their first outing on New Year’s Eve.
The scheme was pioneered in Lambeth by Reverend Les Isaac in 2003, and has since been introduced to 26 London boroughs, where it has led to a decrease in reported crime.
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