Officers in Aberdeen will carry out additional patrols as thousands of students arrive in the Granite City to start university.
Along with partners police today outlined safety tips for the “freshers” and urged them to ask for help if they find themselves in need of assistance.
City Centre Sergeant Gavin Jardine said he is looking forward to welcoming the students to the city for the busy “Fresher’s Fortnight” period.
He said: “Aberdeen is a vibrant city and is a great place to live, study and work with plenty going on. The City Centre, Old Aberdeen and Garthdee areas will be busier as the students arrive and get to know their surroundings and we will be carrying out additional patrols particularly in these areas to ensure a smooth transition.
“This will likely be the first time away from home for many teenagers, which is very exciting, but can also be daunting.
“Moving from home to an unfamiliar place, potentially consuming alcohol and enjoying late nights, students might find themselves more vulnerable to becoming a victim of crime. Expensive items such as iPads, bikes, and laptops left unguarded can be easy prey to thieves.
“We have been working with the local universities and higher education institutions in respect of student safety, to promote key messages to help students feel safe as term time comes to a start.
“We haven’t experienced increased crime rates during recent freshers’ weeks, but we are continuing to carry out preventative work and will have an increased presence at times when we know it will be busy.”