Street Angels scheme receives backing form Safer York Partnership (From York Press)

Street Angels scheme receives backing form Safer York Partnership

10:01am Thursday 6th August 2009 in

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A pioneering scheme aimed at improving night-time safety in York city centre has won fresh backing.

The Safer York Partnership has given £1,500 to the organisers of the Street Angels, a new team of volunteers that will patrol the city’s streets at night looking after people in trouble or in danger.

The money will be used to pay for training and special jackets for the volunteers.

British Transport Police have also contacted the organisers to praise the scheme and ask if they can help in any way.

Jennifer Locke, one of the organisers, said: “It’s great we’ve got funding and new support.”

The Street Angels will patrol the streets at night, giving people help in various situations.

In similar schemes around the country, Angels have helped people in vulnerable situations, walking single girls to taxi ranks or waiting with them for a bus, or helping people who have lost their friends and/or their mobile phones.

Such initiatives already exist in more than 80 British towns and cities, with some seeing large drops in violent crime.

There were reductions of 42 per cent, 74 per cent and 95 per cent in Halifax, Peckham and Camberwell respectively.

Jane Mowat, director of Safer York Partnership, said: “Obviously personal safety is really important to the partnership.

“We see this project as offering an alternative to the police and other agencies for people to go to when they experience difficulties in the city centre at night.” The scheme is being spearheaded by One Voice York and Churches Together, the two umbrella organisations for the city’s churches.

Various churches are currently recruiting volunteers, and the venture is likely to be launched late next month.

Staff will receive specialist training on drugs and alcohol, working with the police, conflict management, first aid, homelessness issues and listening skills.