Pastors keep a watchful eye on streets

16 June 2009

FOR party-goers and late-night commuters on their way home, street pastors have become a familiar sight in Stratford over the last few months.

They operate from 10pm until 4am on Friday nights and wear uniforms including a cap and a winter jacket.

Though the project was launched in 2003 in Brixton by the Reverend Les Isaac, director of the Ascension Trust, it has only been up and running in Stratford since December, writes KAY ATWAL.

The project, which has police and Newham Council support, is a response to modern urban problems and has grown to more than 100 teams throughout the country.

David Crisp is one of 15 street pastors who patrol the streets of 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."

He said they had initially received a mixed reaction from people they encountered but most were friendly towards them as they got used to seeing them over time.

Full report on today's Stratford and Newham Express,