Police chief awards £46,000 to street pastor groups
PCC Matthew Barber (left) says street pastors "help create a positive atmosphere for those having a night out"
- Published
A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has awarded £46,000 to church organisations who look after the safety and wellbeing of people in their community.
Thames Valley's PCC Matthew Barber announced the funding for 13 street pastor groups based in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.
It was awarded through the commissioner's Community Fund.
Mr Barber said the support they offered to police was "invaluable".
Street pastors go out on patrol to assist vulnerable people on nights out.
This includes handing out foil blankets, giving out water or providing first aid.
The groups vary in size and how they operate, so the decision is to distribute £46,000 across three of their tiers, based on the town or city they are located in.
Mr Barber said: "Over the last year, I have been out on patrol with a number of street pastors and have seen first-hand how they successfully work in collaboration... to help create a positive atmosphere for those having a night out."
Neville Burt, chairman of Wallingford Street Pastors, said "the night-time community" and the police told them how much they valued their work.
"...we are delighted that the PCC's Community Fund have decided to contribute to our costs, which should strengthen the relationship and enable us to continue for the foreseeable future," he said.
Money for the scheme comes from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owners.
Follow BBC South on Facebook, external, X, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.