STREET PASTORS could soon be patrolling the streets of Ivybridge following an initial meeting between the town's churches, council, police and other representatives.

Street Pastors is an inter-denominational church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue.

It was pioneered in London in January 2003 by the Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, and has seen some remarkable results, including falls in crime in areas where teams have been working.

There are now some 9,000 trained volunteers in over 250 teams around the UK.

Successful pioneers have included nearby Totnes and Tavistock.

Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust and run by a local co-ordinator with support from Ascension Trust and local churches and community groups, in partnership with police, council and other statutory agencies.

The cost of a voluntary street pastor is a one off payment of £300, which will cover uniform and other set-up needs.

Peter Dale, community safety and emergency planning officer for South Hams Council, said: 'The meeting on Wednesday, January 4, was attended by 46 people who were supportive of the scheme and no doubt many of them will be potential volunteers.

'The first management group meeting will be held within the month, with the date to be confirmed.

'Enquiries are taking place within the interested churches to identify a representative to attend this meeting, as well as town and district councils and the police.

'After the first management group meeting, a date will be fixed to formally launch the Ivybridge Street Pastors scheme, to be attended by senior council and police representatives and church members who would be interested in signing up as pastors, probably around March/April time.

'When volunteers have signed up, 12 weeks training will be arranged resulting in the scheme going live, probably towards the end of the summer.

'Funding will probably not be required until the training begins in the new financial year.'

Mr Dale was keen to stress that the possibility of setting up a Street Pastors initiative in Ivybridge is in the early stages and, if organised, the pastors will not replace police officers as they are not designed to police the streets.

The role of a Street Pastor is purely to support people – not to deal with serious issues or offences.

Street Pastors need at least three churches within a community supporting the scheme.

Churches in the town have been supportive, and any volunteers who want to become Street Pastors need to have been a member of a church for at least 12 months.

There also needs to be at least 16 voluntary pastors for the scheme to take off.