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'God's cops' plan for city
Christian volunteers will patrol Preston's red light areas in a bid to tackle the city's prostitution problem.
A new team of "street pastors" from various denominations are to help tackle crime issues on the city's streets.
They will attempt to mix with prostitutes, residents, traders and others in areas affected by street sex work, give comfort to those who find themselves in the depths of despair and where appropriate, offer to pray with them.
They will also mix with revellers and offer them practical advice.
The project, expected to be introduced in Preston by Christmas, will see trained church volunteers go out on the streets at night to talk to and support people at risk of offending.
It is hoped up to 50 volunteers will patrol areas such as Meadow Street, Fletcher Road, New Hall Lane and Acregate Lane from 9pm to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays.
They will be trained in important social and practical issues and under guidance from police, the council and the church, they will be deployed in areas where a Christian presence is considered necessary, with areas affected by prostitution expected to be a priority.
The chairman of the Christian crime fighting team, Pastor Chris Drury, a minister at Fulwood Free Methodist church, said it was a positive step for the community that showed people in Preston cared about the city's problems.
The 36-year-old said: "We have been asked to go into these areas to deal with these sensitive issues.
"We won't just focus on prostitutes; we will also engage with residents and shopkeepers in those areas.
"This project is eventually for the whole city. It has to be a long-term project – as volunteers have to gain people's trust. It won't solve issues overnight, but in other areas where street pastors operate there has been a noticeable reduction in crime."
The dad-of-four, who lost his wife Linda to breast cancer last year, added: "It is about volunteers from churches across the city recognising Preston's issues and showing we care. I, perhaps more than some, know how it feels to hurt and want to use my experience to help other people who are hurting too."
A 37-year-old resident on East View, which has been dogged by problems caused by prostitutes and drug dealers, said he doubted the scheme would make a difference.
The dad-of-six added: "It's like being in quicksand, once you are in, you can't get out. I don't think the scheme will make a difference to residents unless they manage to move the girls on.
"We have suffered these problems for at least 15 years but the past two months have been worse than ever before."
Preston's Licensed Victuallers Association chairman Ronnie Fitzpatrick welcomed the pastors. He said: "I think they could have a calming influence and it is not a bad idea."
Street pastors are an inter-denominational church response to urban problems. The project began five years ago in London.
It was soon trialled across the capital with further teams created in Manchester and Birmingham.
There are already 1,000 street pastors across the country and the project is gaining significant status, with a team set to be introduced in Lancaster later this month.
When the scheme is eventually rolled out into other parts of Preston and South Ribble it is expected the volunteers will offer practical assistance to revellers, like finding a taxi or helping people who have had too much to drink, or have been injured.
Twenty churches from Great Eccleston to Leyland have shown interest but more volunteers, who must be church attendees, are needed.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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