 Cambridge Street Pastors
Did you know that the top safety and policing priorities for Cambridge are alcohol related violence and anti-social behaviour? And that most incidents, and many of the 1,250 hospital admissions each year that result, occur in the “night-time-economy” hours from 10pm to 4am? And that they mainly result from young people becoming intoxicated in pubs and clubs? Cambridgeshire police and local government officials agree that there needs to be a pastoral as well as a policing response to this problem, which is getting worse each year.
Cambridge has not yet suffered from the wave of knife and gun crime which is often in our newspaper headlines – the weapons used on our streets and in the pubs and clubs of Cambridge are still fists and feet.
And even if these more dramatic problems are not evident, some of those out late at night do become in need of help - to get home, find their friends, be safe, recover from over-indulgence, use a pastoral ear. What should the church do?
Street Pastors - www.streetpastors.co.uk - is an interdenominational Church response to these problems. It is an initiative spearheaded by Ascension Trust, already active in over 100 towns and cities across the UK and shown to have, in some cases, a dramatic impact on crime and disorder. This is an opportunity for the church to go out to meet people where they are, declaring the love of God in practical action and always being ready to give an account of the Hope that is in us.
In association with Ascension Trust, and with encouragement from police and local government officials, a group of Cambridge church leaders has brought Street Pastors to Cambridge: Cambridge Street Pastors launched on Friday 27th March 2009.
What is a Street Pastor?
Street Pastors are Christians from local churches recruited in a volunteer capacity to join a Street Pastors team. They come from right across the Christian Community. Candidates must be 18 or over, obtain references and a CRB check and attend the training course run across 10 Saturdays over a period of 7-8 months, with the first three Saturdays attended before starting patrols. In Cambridge, Street Pastor patrols occur Friday and Saturday nights, 10pm – 4am. Each patrol comprises 4 Street Pastors and we ask each Street Pastor to commit to about one patrol a month.
When on duty Street Pastors wear distinctive uniforms carrying the Street Pastors logo including winter or summer jackets, polo shirt and cap or beanie. Equipment includes ID cards, phones/radios and a notebook.
 What do Street Pastors do?
Street Pastors walk the streets around the main pubs and clubs area in the centre of Cambridge (see map) developing listening, pastoral relationships with anybody who may need help or who just want to chat. We provide a range of practical help so that people can get home or get to their next destination safely and in good order. And anyone can continue a conversation the next day by contacting the Street Pastors Coordinator via phone or email.
King's Church is proud to have three Street Pastors, either in active operation or in training. Audio recordings of their reports will be available to download here.
Click on the links to listen to these testimonies.
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