Good Samaritan pastors hit the streets (From Daily Echo)

Good Samaritan pastors hit the streets

11:33am Sunday 17th February 2008 in News By Echo Reporter

THEY stepped onto the streets of Fair Oak and Horton Heath last night to make global history.

It has become the first semi-rural area in the world to have its own Street Pastors and the Daily Echo was the first to break the story.

They will be acting as "guardian angels" to residents as they leave pubs, clubs and youth centres on Friday nights.

Under the banner of the Ascension Trust, the Street Pastor schemes have been rolled out in other parts of the country, including Portsmouth. Until now it's has been targeted at inner city areas.

Fair Oak's St Thomas Church has been the driving force behind bringing the initiative to the village which has won the backing of the police and parish council.

So far 19 Street Pastors have been recruited and they have gone through an intensive training programme which has included social awareness, knowledge of agencies, drugs awareness, mentoring and counselling skills.

The Street Pastors come from a wide cross section of the community and are easily recognisable with their distinctive blue uniforms.

These real-life Good Samaritans will be there to listen, help and look after people in the area.

The Street Pastors will work on a rota with three teams of five and one of four and take in a big sweep of Fair Oak and Horton Heath.

At a commissioning service at St Thomas Church the Street Pastors were given words of encouragement by community leaders.

The vicar, Reverend David Snuggs underlined the fact that this was a project where the church in the area was working in partnership with police and parish council to benefit the community.

Head of Eastleigh Police, Chief Inspector Diana Boyles said: "For too long police have held solo responsibility for safety and reassurance in our communities.

"It is clear that problems in our communities can only be solved by agencies and the community working together.

"I am thrilled that churches in Fair Oak and Horton Heath are taking this step and the police will support them all we can.

"Street Pastors will provide an extra visible and responsible presence on the streets.

"This will benefit young people in particular. Street Pastors will have time to talk to young people, providing them with information and giving them attention."

The police chief added: "They are not there to get information for the police but to provide a service for the local community."