A service in Saint Peters

On Sunday I attended the fourth annual service of celebration for those who work in around the administration of justice which was open to the general public, attended by Her Majesty’s Judges and by Black Country Magistrates at Saint Peter’s Church. During the service we listened to a presentation by the Reverend Richard Moy, who is a pioneer Minister for young adults.

He specifically spoke about the roles of street pastors who get to know people in the community, particularly the young and those who have found themselves to be marginalised or disenfranchised. The role of a street pastor was one of not preaching but of caring, listening and helping to ease tension and create a positive environment. In Wolverhampton this involved providing enthusiastic but dehydrated revellers with water, putting young people in taxis to make sure that they got home safely and diffusing situations which could have resulted in violence.

Nationally the focus has been on gun crime and knife crime.  In London the effect of the street pastors presence has been extremely positive. In Lewisham the result was a 30% reduction in street crime within 13 weeks, a 95% reduction in Camberwell and a 74% reduction in Peckham. The five core values required from Pastors are the sanctity of human life, valuing and honouring the community, integrity, personal responsibility and the growth and development of the individual to their fullest potential.  These values are intrinsic to traditional culture, almost old fashioned, but sadly often lacking in contemporary society. David Cameron has spoken about the need to strengthen community and the family and it with these core values (traditional values) will we be able to face the challenges of a modern Britain.

Paul