What a Hereford night out looks like as a street pastor

I joined the street pastors on their rounds on Saturday (January 29) to see what a night out for them looks like.

Last week we revealed how drink-spiking had taken a sinister new turn, with reports of vapes and injections being used to drug people. So we decided to join Hereford's street pastors to find out more about how they try to keep people safe from drink-spiking and other dangers on a night out in the city.

The team started their night by reminding everyone not to judge anyone and to be spurred on by love as they walk the streets.

The Lean on Me team, made up of first aid trained sixth form students, set themselves up in St Peter’s House, in St Peter’s Square, ready for anyone who may need medical care.

The Lean on Me team of sixth formers ready to help people who need it.

Two teams of street pastors went from venue to venue checking in with door staff before the night got busier and the need for them became greater.

A number of Hereford venues are involved in the HAND Pubwatch scheme, which is in place to reduce crime and disorder across the county.

The relationship between both parties is clearly strong and their ability to work together throughout the night led them to reach people within four minutes.

Kerry was described by the street pastors as the centre of the night life as people go to the venue between pubs and clubs.

All streets in Hereford’s city centre were covered – from Commercial Road to Bridge Street – as they walked miles.

‘Echo alpha’, who run Hereford’s CCTV, work with the street pastors, police, and door staff to spot anyone who may be in a vulnerable position.

Two young, intoxicated women were spotted with two young men walking down an alleyway.

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Live from a night out in Hereford with the street pastors

The street pastors were called and went searching.

The young women were found throwing up, could barely walk and one complained that her stomach hurt.

The young men were in a more sober state and ensured the pastors they were their friends.

After a few questions and a body language assessment, the team waited to make sure the group weren’t turned away from their taxi.

It is thought the two young women had not eaten during the day and had drunk too much alcohol.

St Peter's House, which is joined onto St Peter's church, is where Vennture is based.

Another young woman was found spotted by the pastors down a low-lit street intoxicated with her friends. She has been sick and was slumped over.

As they waited for her mum to pick her up, they took her in a wheelchair to Lean on Me where she was cared for by the team.

Another case saw a young woman collapsed in the first aid room of a Hereford venue.

One minute she would be laughing and talking the next she would pass out again. This led the street pastors to ring an ambulance.

Her friend said she had been drinking excessively and collapsed on the dance floor.

The street pastors checked in with door staff at the Venue as the night got busier.

The street pastors use their car ‘the donkey’ to drive people somewhere if a taxi will not take them or if someone is injured and can be taken to A&E without the need for an ambulance.

The ambulance service has told Vennture - who organise the street pastors - an ambulance could take six hours.

Later they found a man who had lost his belongings and was so intoxicated he struggled to stand.

They drove him home and made sure he got through the door safely.

Play Nightclub saw its queue grow as the night progressed.

Another element of their work sees them sweep up many piles of glass found around Hereford’s streets with a dustpan and brush to stop people from cutting their feet.

Bottles are picked up to stop people from potentially using it as a weapon or it being smashed later in the night.

With each case they have a small discussion to see what each of them thought to ensure the safety of everyone involved and to apply to future incidents.

Commercial road saw chips spread across it's pavements and people go from pub to pub.

The street pastors carry around small booklets where they write down each detail of what happens during their night.

This can be helpful to the police and ambulance service when they are passed on a case.

Street pastors clean up piles of glass from Hereford's street to stop people from cutting their feet.

I certainly saw a different perspective of Hereford night life and it certainly opened my eyes to the work that Vennture do.

They are there to help anyone who needs them.

Anyone who is over intoxicated or just needs a safe space to go can find them around the streets regularly on a Saturday night as well as bank holidays, and at their centre in St Peter’s House.

This year chair of Vennture Robert Thomas predicts they will help 400 people get home safe, who may otherwise end up in a bad situation.

Saturday night showed how excessive drinking could quickly put someone in a vulnerable state and the need for the street pastors is certainly there.

The street pastors abide by their motto “have a good time but get home safe”.