Call for Street Angels to patrol Whitby’s town centre
21 February
Organisers of a new scheme which hopes to reduce crime and the
fear of crime in Whitby are looking for volunteers.
Teams of Street Angels already patrol the streets of many towns
and cities across the country, including Scarborough on a Friday
and Saturday evening, and these volunteers are well respected by
both the visitors and residents who use the night time economy.
Through their reassuring presence and support given to the
vulnerable people they come across they have contributed to both an
improvement in the night time ambience and a reduction in alcohol
related violent crime.
Lesley Philps of Scarborough’s Safer Community Partnership
said:
“The aim of the Street Angels scheme is to improve the safety of
those who use the town centre bars, restaurants and public
transport during busy periods. Street Angel volunteers will be
asked to provide support to people who have become vulnerable or
need assistance while in the town centre but will not be required
to get involved in any incidents, just report them to the
police.”
The Street Angels patrol the town centre in groups of three and
have radio and telephone contact with the base from which the group
operate and statutory services in the town (including Scarborough
Borough Council’s Community Safety Team, Licensing officers, CCTV
control room, North Yorkshire Police as well as the Cambridge
Centre and the Rainbow Centre).
It is hoped the group’s first patrols will start in June and the
scheme will be co-ordinated by Scarborough’s Safer Community
Partnership in conjunction with Churches Together (members of local
church groups), North Yorkshire Police and Scarborough Borough
Council.
Anyone can volunteer, as long as they are aged 18-years-old or
over and comprehensive training will be given to all recruits prior
to them taking to the streets. If you are interested in
volunteering to become a Street Angel or can offer assistance to
the scheme a meeting is being held at 7.30pm on Thursday 22 March
at Flowergate United Reformed Church, Whitby.
For more information or if you are interested in the scheme but
unable to attend the meeting please contact Deacon Helen Webster at
helenweb2@gmail.com or
telephone 01947 602248.