Street pastors in the U.K.was co founded by Rev Les Issacs a former Rastafarian following the shooting of four teenagers in Birmingham in 2003. As a result the Street Pastors scheme was launched shortly after in Brixton London by the Ascension trust and drew its inspiration from a similar programme running in Jamaica where Christians were reaching out to young people on the streets in areas where unemployment and street crime were high.
There are now over 250 schemes operating across the U.K often in areas of social deprivation, its original aim was to help tackle issues of gun and knife crime, street violence, drug and alcohol abuse but has more recently developed to provide lower level help and support on the streets late at night. Street pastors is an example of Christian faith in action recognizing common humanity and responsibility and bringing hope and a feeling of security to many communities. The inspirational idea behind Street pastors is to help restore society and raise fallen people and show them the quality of Gods love.
Teams of street pastors voluntarily patrol the streets of towns and cities across the country primarily concerned with helping and caring for people in practical ways and ensuring that people stay safe whilst at the same time providing a reassuring presence. Street pastors are uniformed and trained, they carry radios so that help can be summoned from the emergency services if required and also carry bags containing basic first aid equipment. In some areas around night clubs they provide space blankets as clubbers are often inadequately dressed for a night out in winter. Flip flops for those too drunk to walk in their high heels. Personal alarms for those alone late at night. Bus timetables are given out, taxis ordered and lifts called to ensure that people get home safely. Coffee or water along with chocolate bars are often given out to those coming out of pubs, bars and clubs Train platforms are patrolled to give reassurance to those travelling on the late night trains. Street pastors often work until the early hours of the morning.
They are however neutral, not being an arm of the law having no enforcement or arrest powers, their role is not to be the eyes and ears of the police but instead develop relationships of trust with local people. Nor do they seek to pro actively preach or "evangelize". Street pastors maintain confidentiality as long as it is legal to do so and they work closely with Police and local councils to maximize the service they provide. Much of the routine work in most places is to discourage antisocial and drunken behaviour and the vast majority of teams are supported by prayer pastors who support those going out with prayer. Street Pastors find that they are able to help in unexpected ways often with just a simple chat. People who may have stormed out of a house after a domestic dispute, somebody upset after being diagnosed with cancer, a person alone contemplating suicide, for often when people are upset they remove themselves from the home situation and take a walk to get some time for reflection.
Street pastors have been widely acclaimed with many winning community wards with strong statistical evidence to suggest a lowering of crime rates in those areas where they operate. There is no doubt that a friendly word, giving out free gifts and providing a non authoritarian presence can help people feel safer and change the atmosphere in a town or city centre. Jesus mixed with sinners, the marginalized and the poor, and those in distress, he had compassion and cared for them. Jesus was a street person. Street pastors exists to follow his way