Street Pastors

Pastors are trained in meeting and counselling people Street pastors have begun ministering to revellers in Swindon who are in distress on the streets late at night. The idea has already been successful in tackling drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester and London.

"We're not here to preach heaven and hell at people, we're here just to help people with whatever help they might need," said pastor Paul Rush.
Pastors dress in distinctive blue jackets and baseball caps. They are trained to have skills in meeting and counselling people before starting work on the streets. The eight-week course also tackles anger management and crowd control as well as health and safety, first aid and drug awareness. The Christian volunteers in the Pastor Patrols have all been recruited from local churches, with the support of local police and social service workers. They will walk the streets between 2200 and 0400 BST at the weekends.