History

Street Pastors UK

Street Pastors was founded in Brixton in 2003 by Les Isaacs. He had been on a trip to Jamaica, and seen the churches there going out onto the streets to meet people in communities where there were social problems, and try and make a difference to those communities by their presence and actions. He used this idea as inspiration for the first Street Pastors initiative in Brixton.

That first Street Pastors team had a focus on tackling problems caused by gang culture amongst young people. By being a presence on the street, they could help protect people, and ensure that they remained safe. However, by being on the streets, they also had opportunites to meet those in the gangs and have an influence on the way they behaved by respecting them, listening to them and talking to them. This enabled Street Pastors to have an impact on the use of knives and guns in the area.

This model spread: first to other areas of London, and then around the country. In other areas, the churches saw that there were different problems affecting the area: often less gang culture, but more problems caused by public drunkenness. However, the same principles of being out with those people, respecting and listening to them, and aiming to help them applied. While the Street Pastors often spend their time trying to help those who could be seen as the problem, helping them has the effect of reducing the problems they cause to others. This is particularly noticeable in the reduction of violence- by helping calm those who are aggressive, both they and the people around them are protected from harm.

Street Pastors has grown around the UK, operating in over 100 different locations, with more in the process of starting. Wherever the Street Pastors have been patrolling, they have been acknowledged to be a help to the area, having a noticeable effect on social problems. The model of operating is now being exported to other countries.

Southampton Street Pastors

Southampton Street Pastors first patrolled down London Road and Above Bar Street on 25th April 2009. In the 18+ months since then, the team has grown to over 60 Street Pastors, and many more who are involved in supporting the work. There are now 3 teams that patrol each week, with one going out on Friday, and two on Saturday. We have formed good links with the Southampton Safe City Partnership, the Hampshire Police and the pubs, clubs and bars in the city centre area, which means that they are able to draw our attention to any problems that we might be able to help with.

In our first 12 months, we contributed to a 31% reduction in violent crime in the city centre at night, as well as looking after nearly 300 drunk people, administering first aid nearly 80 times, and giving out nearly 1000 pairs of flip-flops to women walking in bare feet.