Students get advice on how to avoid being victims

AVON and Somerset police are to target students beginninguniversity in Bristol this autumn with advice to stop them becomingvictims of crime.

Action on Street Crime, the multi-agency initiative to crackdownon robbery and street crime, has funded a number of projects whichcoincide with the new term at Bristol University and the Universityof the West of England as well as nearby colle ges.

The aim is to target students - particularly those new to Bristol -to provide them with simple, practical crime prevention advice andinformation.

Inspector Catherine Tarrant, from Action on Street Crime, said:"More than a quarter of the victims of robbery in Bristol are youngpeople, particularly men, aged between 17 and 24-years-old.

"Obviously, the vast majority of students fit into this categoryand that is why it is so vital we put our time and resources intopreventing them from becoming victims of street crime. " The policewill be at all the university's "freshers fairs" giving out crimeprevention packs and talking to students.

Avon and Somerset Police also projected crime reduction advice onthe giant screen at Bristol's annual balloon fiesta last week. Aspart of this initiative two posters were projected on the two giantscreens which stand each side of the Ashton Court stage during thefour days of the festival.

Insp Tarrant said: "The start of the autumn term is obviously avital time for us with the massive influx of new students who willneed help to find their feet.

"For many students, it is their first time away from home in acity they don't know.

"We are working closely with the universities, colleges andBristol City Council to ensure they enjoy their time in Bristolwithout becoming a victim of crime."