POLICE chiefs and church leaders will meet in Bolton this week to discuss how the power of prayer can help cut crime.

The one-off meeting, on Thursday evening at the University of Bolton, is the first of its kind in the town and aims to forge links between officers and ministers.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy has personally written to church leaders in Bolton to invite them to the “Redeeming Our Communities” event.

Chief Con Fahy said the meeting would show how neighbourhood police teams and churches could work together to make a difference.

He said: “We still face many challenges and my officers deal every day with the impact of broken relationships, local tensions, racial discrimination and alcohol and drug addiction.

“We want to work more closely with our faith communities to offer more hope in these situations.”

The meeting aims to kick-start new church projects in Bolton as well as identify current schemes which police can help with. One such scheme is Street Angels, which is based at Bank Street Chapel, in the town centre.

Volunteers patrol the streets of Bolton town centre on Saturday nights helping people who have too much to drink.

Bank Street minister, Stephen Lingwood said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the police and faith communities in Bolton to get together and talk with each other.

“Street Angels is a great example of churches working in the community in close collaboration with the police.

“We work closely with Greater Manchester Police, and we couldn’t do the work we do without that strong partnership.”

The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev Chris Edmondson, will also attend the event along with Rev Phil Mason, who is minister at Victoria Hall and also the Bolton Wanderers club chaplain.

The meeting is on Thursday at 7.30pm at the Social Learning Zone in the University of Bolton.

Officers from every neighbourhood police team in Bolton will also attend.

steven.thompson@ theboltonnews.co.uk