With their bright yellow and orange hi vis, it is easy to spot the "Peacemakers patrol". We meet on a hot, sunny day by the Morrisons along Fishponds Road. For 20 years now, this group has been fighting crime in the city. Starting off in St Pauls at a time when crime was at an all-time high, the Peacemakers have now taken their work all over the world and cover many areas of Bristol.
Their passion for what they do is obvious from the moment you meet them. Shuanna-Lee Samuel has been involved in the group since its inception 20 years ago, now having the title of "first officer" - meaning she is second in command.
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At the time, there were lots of things happening on the streets, she said, from gun and knife crime to prostitution. "It was so bad and it concerned me," she added. "I have always had a caring heart, I care a lot for people and like to show kindness. When I first heard about it, I thought this is something I want to be part of."
The 44-year-old is the founder's daughter and said she tries to join as many patrols as she can. She feels the group provides something positive to the community, bringing peace and making a difference.
People like seeing them out in their communities, Ms Samuel continued, and said they can see the changes that have occurred in the areas they have been in. The Easton resident said that, in some patrols, they interact with people while in others they do not and just patrol.
Their patrols vary in length, she continued, lasting from an hour to several hours. Sometimes people will suggest to them that they patrol a certain area, she added, which happened with Eastville Park. Earlier in the summer, there were reports of a similarly-described man approaching women in Eastville Park, exposing himself to teenage girls and demanding sex from women.
"We are a presence, which makes a difference," she added. "Us just being stood here is a deterrent. We also keep an eye on the area and, if we see anything that will need reporting, we will report it."
Josh Bergers is one of the newest recruits and has been involved in the group for about a month, hearing about it through the founder. The patrol we join them on at the Bristol and Bath Railway Path is his second patrol and Mr Bergers, from Fishponds, said that groups of young people congregating in the area can be intimidating for some, adding people drinking and taking drugs can also be a problem.
"It is helpful for the community and it lets people know that people care - it does make a difference," continued the 33-year-old. "It shows people do care about the place they live.
"It is a really positive thing to be involved in, I enjoy the social aspect of it - talking with people and seeing more of the community. I find it rewarding."
Founder Reverend Dr Dawnecia Palmer AFP OBA said that today they are out as a "Peacemakers Patrol", which is both their non-religious City Safety Patrol and Prayer Patrol. As there are not many of them out, she described it as a "drizzle patrol".
She said they have had reports of issues along the cycle path, but that they are not as bad now. These included an attempted robbery and a motorbike riding along the path driving up to women, frightening and harassing them.
"We work alongside the police and for us it is about creating a presence," she continued. "The aim is to create peace by deterring crime - we are the prevention."
Rev Palmer said they patrol many areas across the city, including Lodge Causeway, Hillfields, Easton, St Pauls, Lawrence Hill and the city centre. They started in St Pauls, which she said at the time was a no-go area.
Over the years, the group has been all over the world including Gaza, Jamaica, Korea and the US. To mark the 20th anniversary this month the group held an awards ceremony last week, with some being awarded by themselves and others by the police.
"It has been a humbling delight to be part of something that is constantly making a difference in the community and working with other organisations and other people," continued the 64-year-old. "I love seeing the community change and also seeing that people change. I also want to say thank you to the community for their support to us."
The group is looking for new volunteers and you can find out more here.
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