Meet the street angels keeping people safe

Article excerpt

On weekend nights in England's city centers, volunteer 'street angels' patrol the streets offering help to revelers and vulnerable people. These teams of trained volunteers hand out water, escort intoxicated people to taxis, and intervene in potential conflicts, work that local police say reduces demand on emergency services. The volunteers, who typically wear high-visibility jackets, operate in dozens of towns across the country, funded by a mix of local businesses, charities, and donations. Their presence has become a fixture at closing time, filling gaps between what traditional policing can cover and what communities need.