Harlow street pastors help cut town centre crime

A CHRISTIAN support group set up to provide kerbside assistance to late-night revelers has helped cut anti-social behaviour in Harlow town centre by 17 per cent in its first year of operation.

Working in partnership with police, Harlow Street Pastors have provided everything from first aid to advice on drink and drugs to the hundreds of people visiting the town’s bars and clubs on Friday and Saturday nights.

Meet the team (left to right): Colin Gaskin, Eddie Rouse, Maureen Rouse, Pat Balkwill, Stephen Long, Voon Chan, Kevin McVann, Natalie Bayne.

In their first year of patrols, the team engaged in conversations or prayer with 167 men and 63 women, helped 42 men and 63 women get home and gave first aid assistance to 62 people.

They also handed out 96 pairs of flip flops and 22 "space blankets" and cleaned up 400 bottles and 137 glasses from streets in the town centre.Sergeant Chris Gould of Essex Police said the team’s "immeasurable" efforts had helped slash the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights by 17 per cent.

"We fully support the Pastors in their mission and I and my officers thank them for their continued efforts," he added.

"The past year has not been without its challenges, but we look forward to working together in the future in keeping members of our community as safe as possible." Street Pastors area coordinator Owen Jenkins added: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved over the past year with Harlow Street Pastors.

"We could not achieve this without their time, fellowship and tireless commitment and I am so excited about what God has in store for the year ahead.

"My grateful thanks go out to all - it is a real privilege to be part of this wonderful team."For more information about the Street Pastors scheme, log on to www.streetpastors.co.uk.