Uniformed Christian volunteers have taken to the streets across the country in a bid to stop inner-city crime. Reporter SAMANTHA PAYNE spent a night in Lewisham to see the scheme in action ...

When I was asked to help patrol the streets of New Cross and Sydenham late on a Friday night I was a little dubious.

With only an oversized blue Street Pastor jacket and a baseball cap for protection I didn't feel ready to take on Lewisham's rogues.

But strangely enough while I was out and about with the Christian workers I felt very protected.

In fact I'd go so far as to say I felt respected just going to buy a drink people made way for me, letting me pass to the front of the queue.

But being a Street Pastor isn't about getting to the front it is an empowering project designed to tackle crime and build community relationships.

It is based at the Salvation Army centre in Catford and is run by the Christian charity the Ascension Trust.

The charity's director Les Isaac set up Street Pastors in Lewisham in February last year following the success of the project on the streets of Ghana and Jamaica.

Since then the scheme has been rolled out in Hackney, Brixton, Brent and Southwark and has seen remarkable results, including falling crime where teams work.

In Catford there are 14 street pastors who patrol in groups of four every week from 10pm to 4am.

On my Friday night with the team we trod the beat in Sydenham High Street and New Cross both currently crime hotspots.

Luckily no serious incidents occurred the night but the pastors have faced some horrors which the streets can throw up.

One of the worse scenarios a team has ever faced was helping victims of a shooting in New Cross.

Team member Peter George said: "I helped direct traffic out of the way while Dave and Antoinette looked after some passengers in the targeted car.

"It's about helping people at the right time which I find most rewarding about being a street pastor."

But street pastor work is not just about helping victims of crime, they also act as the eyes and ears of the council, keeping them up-to-date on potential problems.

Team member Dave Harding, a former Forest Hill School science teacher, says there were no lights on outside Sydenham station until he brought it to the attention of Lewisham Council.

He added: "I gain a lot of satisfaction by being a street pastor.

"But it's important people know we are there as a visible presence and not a law-enforcing body.

"We are there to build relations with the community and to make the area a friendlier place to be."

During my time with the Street Pastors I've had nothing but positive comments from passers-by who welcomed a little order being put back on the streets.

Despite knocking off two hours early at 2am after being soaked by the N53 bus as it went through a puddle, I recommend the work to anyone who wants to get involved and make a difference to their community.

  • The team in Catford is looking for more members.

To become a Street Pastor you have to be: 18 or older, have been committed to Christian Fellowship for more than a year and complete a 12-day Street Pastors training course.

To find out more information or to apply to become a Street Pastor, call 020 7771 9770.