"I'm no angel but I like the way you care."

So said a burly man outside the Duchess pub as he chatted to a group of Dover Street Pastors on their Saturday night rounds.

At Pencester Gardens a group of youths gleefully took up the patrol's offer of bottled water, chocolate bars and lollipops from their bulging rucksacks of supplies.

As the pastors were ready to move on, one gave them a cheerio with fist bumps.

Dover Street Pastors, despite facing what might be frightening and potentially violent encounters with weekend drunks, seem to attract genuine goodwill.

As I followed them on patrol last weekend I was able to conclude the secret of their success.

They keep the balance of making themselves useful when needed but not interfering or being where they are not wanted.

It may explain why members of Dover Street Pastors, marking their 10th anniversary this month, have never been physically attacked and rarely faced verbal abuse.

During my three hours following their patrol I didn't see them suffer a single tense encounter.

They simply moved along saying "hello, you all right? " to those they came across and were greeted with polite and friendly responses. When there was a sense that a conversation was wanted they stopped and chatted.

Pastor Alan Boxall said: "If someone does try to be abusive to us a pub doorman or even a member of the public will tell them: 'Don't talk to him like that, he's a street pastor.'

"In one case a young man was hitting his girlfriend and when we turned up his attitude changed and he stopped. He probably didn't want witnesses or just became embarrassed. The atmosphere changed when we were there.

"Our job is to care and listen..."

"When street pastors were brought into Nottingham city centre crime fell by 70%."

Senior pastor Jan Jones said:"We are all Christians but we don't ram religion down people's throats. Our job is to care and listen."

These unpaid volunteers come out at night helping people such as through offering food, hot drinks or first aid.

They also clear discarded bottles and glasses to stop someone accidentally cutting themselves - or using them as weapons.

In addition they help with recharging phones or making calls for stranded individuals.

Mrs Jones said: "We never know when we are needed. On one night absolutely nothing happened until the last few minutes of our patrol. A young woman who had too much to drink fell over. We had to pick her up and walk her home."

In another case a student from Kent University in Canterbury fell asleep on a train late at night and ended up at stranded and distraught at Dover Priory Station.The pastors paid for her taxi fare home.

Mrs Jones said: "One of the saddest encounters I had about three years ago when we came across a young woman at Stembrook who wanted to take her own life.

"We were able to talk her out of it.

"She was a drug addict but not any more and the last time I saw her she was looking well."

The street pastors don't just look out for Friday and Saturday night revellers in the town centre.

They also check on the welfare of the homeless further away, ready to give them blankets and hot drinks when needed.

Our patrol left behind the town centre to sweep along the seafront, the shop doorways at De Bradelei Wharf, plus the banks of the River Dour at Pencester Gardens.

Asylum seekers aren't forgotten either and prayers were said for them on the seafront.

The night before I joined the patrol Dover Street Pastors celebrated their 10th anniversary at the One Church in Noah's Ark Road.

"It's about bringing hope to the hopeless."

About 100 people attended the event and £250 was raised for the upkeep of the service.

The keynote speaker was the Rev Les Isaacs who founded Street Pastors UK in 2003.

He said: “When Dover Street Pastors walk the streets and people feel loved and comforted, it’s all about bringing hope to the hopeless.

"God’s spirit is helping us care for people and to reach out and make Dover a better place.”

Mike Connolly, chairman of Dover District Council said: “Many human needs and frailties are served by Dover Street Pastors doing a fantastic job.”

Dover MP Natalie Elphicke revealed that she had also joined the volunteers on patrol.

She said: "I have seen first-hand the vital work they do helping keep people safe on our streets. Keeping an eye out for youngsters out on the town, as well as those sleeping in shelters and on the street.

“A big thank you to all the volunteers for the support they offer to people in need of help.

"The Dover Street Pastors are now looking for new recruits. I would strongly encourage anyone feeling inspired to help them with their vital work to get in touch with them to find out more.”

Dover Mayor Gordon Cowan presented awards to both street and prayer pastors in recognition of their decade of service.

He concluded by saying, “Your generosity, time, practical help to those in need and your kindness have made our streets safer for everyone. You are a vital part of our town’s life and are respected and trusted - proof that our community cares for everyone.”

Currently in Dover there are five teams of street pastors plus teams of prayer pastors who work a four-weekly rota. The groups meet at a town centre base where the prayer pastors remain whilst the street teams go out on patrol.

In 2019 nearly 2,000 hours were put in by the volunteers and contact was made with nearly 900 Dover people whilst out on patrol.

Dover Street Pastors are a group of Christians from different churches including Church of England, Baptist and Methodist.

They work in partnership with Kent Police, Dover District Council, Dover Community Safety Partnership, Dover Outreach Centre and other relevant organisations to help support a peaceful presence on the night-time streets in Dover.

Since 2003 more than 240 town and cities around the UK have a street pastor team, adding up to 20,000 volunteers for the entire network.

To learn more about Dover Street Pastors, and if you want to join them, visit the website streetpastors.org/locations/dover/

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