Dover Street Pastors will be spearheading a scheme which gives support and assistance to vulnerable people who may have had too much to drink.

The official launch takes place on Saturday (September 17), with a commissioning ceremony in Dover Town Hall at 7.30pm.

The initiative came about following a suggestion from a local police officer.

Volunteers came forward from the Apostolic, Methodist, Anglican and Baptist churches and the Dover District Community Safety Partnership paid for the street pastors to have uniforms. It also supported training sessions for the volunteers.

There are 15 street pastors, aged between 18 and 70, who will go out in teams of four every Saturday night from 10pm until 3am.

As well as the safety partnership backing the scheme it is also supported by Kent Police, Dover District Council, Dover Town Council, Dover Rotary Club, Dover churches and individual church members.

Street Pastors is an international, inter-denominational initiative, pioneered in London in 2003.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©