11 November 2005

Pastors on patrol to stop violence

Uniformed Christian volunteers have taken to the streets across the country in a bid to stop inner-city crime. Reporter SAMANTHA PAYNE spent a night in Lewisham to see the scheme in action ...

When I was asked to help patrol the streets of New Cross and Sydenham late on a Friday night I was a little dubious.

With only an oversized blue Street Pastor jacket and a baseball cap for protection I didn't feel ready to take on Lewisham's rogues.

Continued...

MPS IN 'SCUFFLE'

A LABOUR MP yesterday demanded an inquiry following his heated confrontation with a backbench colleague who has opposed the Terrorism Bill.

Jim Dowd, who admitted he "seized the lapel" of Bob Marshall-Andrews, has filed a complaint against the member for Medway under the party's code of conduct.

The MP for Lewisham West wants chief whip Hilary Armstrong to investigate.

He claims to have been angered by a "fairly vile and offensive" remark directed at him by Marshall-Andrews in the Commons' Members' Lobby.

Dowd said he had tried to speak to a colleague who was with Marshall-Andrews' group when the barrister "gratuitously" insulted him at around 9.30pm on Tuesday.

But he insisted: "There were no blows exchanged."

Marshall-Andrews has declined to comment.