Southampton Street Pastors celebrated its first year of operation (2009-2010) tonight with the news that over the last year there has been a 31% reduction in violent crime in the city centre at night.
Over 100 people packed out Coco Rio, the Afro-Latino restaurant in Upper Bannister Street, to celebrate this success. They were surprised to hear that over the first 12 months street pastors have clocked up over 520 miles on patrol in the city centre and volunteers gave a total of 3132 hours of their time.
During this first year of the street pastors initiative in Southampton the combined efforts of the Safe City Partnership have seen a 31% reduction in violent crime in the city centre at night. There was a significant reduction in sexual assaults within the city centre parks compared with previous years. A simple but effect job done by street pastors was to clear over 3500 bottles and glasses off the streets in their first year - crime statistics have shown that there has been a resulting reduction in incidents involving the use of glass as a weapon.
The 43 street pastor volunteers were recognised for their service by Inspector Phil Bates of Southampton Central Police Station. Each volunteer is out with their team once per month, patrolling the streets from 10pm to 4am on Fridays or Saturdays. Inspector Bates said ‘The street pastors have been a valuable asset within the night time economy. They help make people feel safer and they’ve made a significant contribution to the overall reduction in violent crime.’
The existing street pastors welcomed 20 new volunteers, who have just completed their training. These new recruits were commissioned by Canon Geoff Annas. Canon Annas chaired the initial street pastors steering group that brought the project to its launch in May 2009. This is one of the last things he’ll be doing in Southampton before taking up his new post as Bishop of Stafford.
Finally Jane Fisher, chair of trustees, announced the successful formation of a charitable company to keep the street pastor initiative running in future. Charitable status has just been confirmed and supporters are now sought to help provide a firm financial basis for the work to continue.
Summary of activity, first 12 months.
Reducing alcohol-related harm:
* calmed 120 situations that were getting aggressive
* cared for total of 299 people who were drunk
* helped 178 people clean themselves up after vomiting
* helped 147 drunk people contact a friend/family member to take them home
* administered first aid to 77 people
* gave out 149 emergency blankets (space blankets)
Removing hazards/preventing injury:
* cleared 3540 bottles and glasses off the streets
* swept up broken glass 358 times
* gave out 937 pairs of flip flops
* reported suspicious people loitering in the parks approx 10 times
