'Street Pastors' will take to Whitstable's beaches on Friday nights throughout the summer in what is believed to be the first scheme of its kind to operate on a beach.

Churches and communities were encouraged to become involved in the struggle to combat deadly gang culture at a conference organised by the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Street Pastors in central London on 4 July.

Christians across all London's 33 boroughs, including many from the Black Majority Churches, are coming together for a Week of Peace which will look at practical community-based methods for reducing violence throughout the capital.