Inverness Street Pastors launch


Street Pastors in lightsInverness is the latest city to have a team of Street Pastors drawn from local churches and working on the city streets at the weekends.
Thursday 17 January 2008 saw the initiative formally launched in Inverness Town House with senior police officers, deputy provost, councillors, drugs and alcohol forum and invited guests.

The team of street pastors is led by Mark Hatfield of Inverness Community Church along with leaders from four other local churches.
Members of the team are drawn from churches across the city and they are due to "hit the streets" on Friday 25 January offering support and care to people in the city centre between 10pm and 3am.

Inverness will initially have 22 Street Pastors who will work in teams of 4 every Friday from 10pm to 3am and initially also one Saturday per month. They will work in partnership with community groups, the Police and The Highland Council. Training started last August for the 22 volunteers who will be identifiable by their uniforms and ID badges.

The Street Pastors initiative started in the London Boroughs in 2003 as a direct response to increased violent crime and antisocial behaviour. Results showed marked improvements, so much so that the initiative is running in 55 locations around the UK, although this will be only the second to be set up in Scotland. Aberdeen launched their scheme a few months ago and Perth will be launched later this year.

Mark said: “The volunteers are all unpaid people who care about Inverness and its people. They come from 11 different local churches in the area, representing a broad spectrum of denominations. The Street Pastor is there to get to know people in the community and to build relationships with them to find out their needs and what can be done for them.”

On behalf of the Provost, Councillor Ian Brown attended the launch and met with the volunteers. Welcoming the initiative he said:

“The national success of the scheme has shown it can make a positive difference to young people so I am delighted that Inverness will be introducing Street Pastors. Sometimes all people need is someone to listen and talk to them about any worries or concerns they have. This is a very practical way of reaching out and offering help from the pavements. The volunteers are to be admired for their commitment and I am sure the initiative will prove to be a success and our city centre will be safer and more peaceful at the weekends.”

These are some of the pictures taken on the night.

See also -
Street Pastors heading for Inverness and

Street Pastors for Inverness Training Day and update



Christians Together, 17/01/2008

Mark with two members of the D
We're the Drug and Alcohol Forum
and here to help you More ...
Street Pastors glow in the dar
Night vision training
It's dark on these streets More ...
Leo and Sharon Rose
Gee, you're looking good tonight
Leo and Cheyrl Rose More ...
Trish Bell looking after her c
We church people can handle our drink
Trish Bell employing the two-handed grip More ...
Archie Macarthur taking it all
Yes Donald, I'm listening
Archie Macarthur taking it all in. More ...
Owen Morris engages with the l
The policeman and the pastor
Owen Morris engages with the law More ...
Ernie Gibson is heading up the
Your beard is greyer than ours
Paul, Ernie and Thom More ...
Meeting ne colleagues
We're going to be working together
Meet you on Friday night outside the pub More ...
James Dunbar and two of the te
New start and new starts
James Dunbar chatting to two new Street Pastors More ...
Donald Boyd and Thom Raller
The doctor and the pastor
Thom Raller in conversation with Donald Boyd More ...
All together now
All together now
Can you all look this way please More ...
Smile Please
Smile Please
Local press photographer coaxing a smile out of Mark Hadfield and Chief Inspector Ian Cox More ...