A SCHEME to combat late night disturbances in Tavistock was given the thumbs up during a meeting in the town last week.
The local street pastors initiative, put forward by Tavistock Area Christians Together (TACT), is a scheme whereby trained volunteers will go out on the streets of the town on Friday and Saturday nights, offering help and support to anyone who may require it.
The movement has been running for several years nationally and one of the biggest single groups in the country is currently operating in Plymouth.
It has been welcomed by police locally.
Members of Tavistock Town Council last week endorsed TACT's move at their full meeting — although some concern was expressed.
Cllr Brian Trew said: 'I think it's wholly laudable, but they are an exclusive group, only Christians.
'I can see it's a good thing but I do not think a secular body should be supporting a religious group in this way.'
Cllr Ted Sherrell said he felt the question of religion was irrelevant. He said if volunteers were willing to put themselves on the line late at night to 'smooth over' potentially explosive situations, it could only be a good thing.
Cllr David Whitcomb wondered if street pastors could possibly attract trouble, rather than pacify trouble makers.
Graham Boot Handford of TACT told members that the street pastor movement had been running in big cities since 2003 and that its volunteers were well trained and checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.
No street pastors had ever been injured in the course of their work, he said.
Cllr Mandy Govier said the council embraced all faiths and she was surprised some members were questioning whether the street pastors initiative was exclusive.
The council agreed it would endorse the scheme — Cllr Jenny Metcalf volunteered to be a 'point of contact' in any future dealings regarding the initiative.