MANY clergymen in the Medway Towns are prepared to fight back against thugs. In a straw poll carried out by the Medway Messenger newspaper, about half the clergy spoken to said they would be prepared to take up self defence classes following plans by their trade union to introduce them in the New Year.

The move by the MSF (Manufacturing, Service and Finance union), which represents 1,500 clergy, follows a national survey that showed 12 per cent of clergy have been physically assaulted over two years. Five out of 10 vicars we contacted favoured the classes, some saying they had been threatened and even attacked.

The Rev Glyn Ackerley, of St Philip and St James Church in Walderslade, said: "There is no reason why Christians should not defend themselves against attackers. There is more violence at the doorstep of vicarages now. Beggars at the door can get very heavy."

The Rev Jan Dash, of St Matthew's Church in Borstal, said: "Once I asked a man to move his car out of the church car park so I could get out and he was very threatening towards me. I am a chaplain for Cookham Wood women's prison and I feel safer there than on the outside. The inmates in those circumstances know the parameters."

The Rev Russell Thompson, of St Peter in St Margaret's Church in Rochester, revealed he had once been punched outside his vicarage in Delce Road. He said: "Years ago, I was trying to calm an aggressive person down and he punched me in the chest and stomach. I am over-60, but if I was younger I would take up classes."

The other two in favour were Higham vicar, the Rev James Southward, and the Rev Alan Vousden, of St Margaret's Church in Rainham High Street, who said: "We live in times when sadly there is more violence."

But the Rev. Gordon Barker, vicar at Grain and Stoke, said he would not take up classes, saying: "I would prefer if possible to be non-violent."

The Rev Chris van Straaten, of St Augustine's Church in Gillingham, said: "If I got into a state of mind where I felt I had to be ready to defend myself, it would seem as if I was inviting aggression."

Others who said no were the Rev Bryan Knapp of St Paul with All Saints' Church in Chatham and the Rev Richard Lee, of All Saints' Church in Hempstead.

The Rev Dr Philip Hesketh, of St Stephen's Church in Chatham, said that he felt safer in Kent than in his previous workplace, London.

Barry Archer, chief instructor for the Medway branch of the martial arts group, the UK Bushido Club, said: "We would encourage anybody to take up a course in basic self-defence. You never know when you need it. Pupils can be of any age, from five to 90 - as long as they can raise their arms they can learn the basic skills."