Llandudno Street Angels help others on night out

Dec 24 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

Street Angels help others on night out

STREET Angels helped bring peace and goodwill to the streets of Llandudno at the weekend by helping to resolve a domestic violence incident and seeing drunks safely home.

The 12 volunteers from St David’s and St John’s Methodist churches in the resort, and the Gloddaeth United Reformed Church, were on patrol on Friday and Saturday nights as part of a new scheme to make the town centre a safer place over the Christmas period.

Neil Kirkham, minister at the United Reformed Church, was one of those who patrolled on Friday night.

“Nine of us went out in three teams of three concentrating on Upper Mostyn Street first and then gravitating with the crowds down to the Boulevard and Washington,” he said.

“We were very well-received. Obviously the publicity in the Weekly News had paid off because we heard a lot of comments as we passed. Some stopped to talk to us to ask why we were doing it. Most were impressed and appreciative that volunteers would give up an evening to watch out for them.

“We had the opportunity to explain we were from local churches and we see this as an expression of God’s love and protection.

“We were able to help people find taxis, reunite friends with parties when they had lost each other in the crowds. We were also able to alert the police to one domestic incident where a young man was becoming aggressive towards his girlfriend, and we witnessed a fight in Gloddaeth Street and called the police. This led to one strong and very angry young man being restrained with a Taser.

“All in all it was a very positive experience and I hope we were a help in allowing people to enjoy themselves in safety,” he said.

Sergeant Jonny Hill said the project, which continues tonight, Boxing Day, Saturday and New Year’s Eve, said Conwy Community Safety Partnership was happy with the public response to the Angels.

“A lot of people knew of their existence thanks to the excellent front page story in the Weekly News.”

To post your comments on the Angels, e-mail streetangels@live.co.uk