As the academic year gets into swing, a national campaign is aiming to prevent students becoming easy targets for criminals . . .

IT is about now that thousands of students across the county will be settling down into their new academic year.

It is also about now that criminals across the region start rubbing their hands together at the prospect of getting them on the stacks of laptop computers, stereos and other valuable items they will be bringing with them.

The rise in the amount of crime increases significantly at this time of year and the reason is simply that a whole new community arrives in town to target.

To combat this a national campaign has been launched to try to alert students to the dangers and give advice on what they can do to protect themselves from being victims of crime.

But getting that message across is difficult.

Caught up in the excitement of being away from home, meeting new friends and learning new subjects, personal safety doesn't tend to rank that highly in further education priorities.

But that isn't stopping university chiefs and the police trying to hammer home the message.

Initiatives being launched in Southampton include a Campus Watch scheme based on the successful model of the neighbourhood and pub watch schemes.

The idea is that students at Southampton University can help police their own campus by providing a network of information and keeping their eyes and ears to the ground.

It follows on from last year's student safe scheme that identified safe havens for students to go to if they got into trouble while off the campus.

Both the university and Southampton Institute also have dedicated police officers whose job it is to address specific student-based problems when it comes to crime.

At the university, crime prevention is primarily led by on-site PC Steve Mullins.

He said: "Nationally students are seen as a vulnerable group because they are perceived as an easy target by local thieves. Many students bring expensive items such as laptops to university and students are often poor at keeping their belongings safe and secure.

"Southampton remains a relatively safe place to live and study and we are working hard to make sure that it stays that way. By taking responsibility for their own security, students can reduce the likelihood of being victimised and make our job much easier.

"Students are particularly vulnerable to burglaries, especially while living in shared accommodation off the university campus."

A scheme aimed at reducing the number of laptop thefts by fitting computers with tracking software is also on the verge of being piloted at the university in response to the dozens that get stolen every year.

Along with stamping out burglaries and thefts, a heavy emphasis is put on personal safety.

For the first time this year in addition to personal attack alarms, as part of a rape awareness campaign, students can buy kits that test whether or not drinks have been spiked.

With the amount of alcohol associated with student life, drink spiking is a real threat for students.

PC Mullins said: "Students need to think about their personal safety when they're out and about. They should try to go out and return in groups, helping to look after each other.

"While out students should make sure they don't drink excessively and also be on their guard for drinks being spiked."

The crime prevention message is put out as soon as the students set foot on campus as part of the induction process.

It involves the beat officers talking to the students about personal security and property protection.

Bryan Carroll, deputy head of Campus Service at South-ampton Institute said: "During our freshers' week an estimated 2,200 new students attended a series of welcome addresses which focused on matters of personal health, safety and well-being.

"All students who are living in halls of residence, private or rented accommodation were invited to the event.

"Students received valuable advice, guidance and information from representatives of Campus Service, Student Support Service, the Students' Union, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service as well as the institute's police higher education liaison officer, Al Deakin.

"Students were also shown an easy target video, that depicts several scenarios where students could be considered an easy target, and have the potential to become victims of crime."

Anti-crime measures are also evident on campus. At the university along with police security teams patrolling the main Highfield Road campus, closed-circuit TV cameras cover the entire outdoor site.

Within the next week a £575,000 security camera system will also be switched on that will give security guards the ability to monitor inside university buildings and communal areas.

A spokesman for the university said: "We have invested heavily in recent years in CCTV systems and at our Highfield campus we now have around 200 cameras which record 24 hours a day.

"Pictures from our CCTV cameras are sent back to the main control room, which is staffed 24 hours a day. There is also a link between the control room and police main control at Netley, which can receive 'live' pictures if necessary. In addition we have 24-hour a day dog patrols at Highfield and have our own security staff on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

But is the message getting through? According to students the advice is hitting home.

President of Southampton University's Student Union, Andy Wilson, said: "It is true that a lot of students will not register how much of a target they can be but we do our best to get that message through.

"We make people aware of the risks and give them all the advice available. But by taking common sense precautions and adhering to personal safety advice, hopefully more students can complete their studies without becoming crime victims."

HOW YOU CAN PREVENT CRIME:

Basic precautions such as ensuring all windows and doors are locked before leaving the house can help to prevent crime.

For students living in university halls, keep bedroom doors and windows locked, even if leaving the room for a very short time.

Never let anyone into halls who you don't know. Do not give out the keycode to access halls to anyone

Try not to leave electrical and expensive goods on display or close to windows.

Mark your property with a UV marker pen and take details of the make and model when you buy it.

If you have a laptop or expensive piece of equipment, ensure the insurance covers the value.