Pastors on the streets

22 April 2009

A CHRISTIAN charity's efforts to make Stratford's streets safer have made a growing impression over the last four months.

Street Pastors have become a familiar sight to partygoers and late commuters since the project was launched in December.

They operate from 10pm until 4am on Friday nights and wear clothes, including a cap and a jacket, that identify them as Street Pastors.

David Crisp is one of 15 Street Pastors who patrol the streets of central Stratford.

He told the Recorder: "We represent a multi-church approach to making the streets of Newham safer. We are engaging with the homeless, making sure revellers get home safely and even attending violent incidents to call an ambulance.

"It's really about being out there, listening to and caring for people."

Full story by Kay Atwal in this week's Recorder