A COMMUNITY policeman has taken more than 8,000 students under his wing in his new role patrolling a city's college campuses.

PC Jeff Barksby has just taken over as the dedicated liaison officer at the 14 colleges and societies of Durham University.

PC Barksby, who has worked in the division for the past three years, took up the post at the start of term.

His first task was to give introductory briefings to the thousands of freshers coming to Durham for the first time in late September and early October.

While welcoming the new arrivals, it also gave him the chance to remind the new intake of undergraduates to be security conscious.

He said: "Most of the criminals in Durham are opportunists and by encouraging students to follow simple measures, like locking doors and windows, we aim to reduce the potential for crime.

"For a lot of students it is their first time away from home. They are from different parts of the country and it is a strange environment.

"We are trying to encourage them to be security-conscious, perhaps not to walk home alone across Durham late at night and to use public transport or the late student bus which takes them from the student union building up to the South Road colleges."

PC Barksby said there have been a number of break-ins at college buildings in recent weeks, but through intelligence-led policing several arrests have been made.

He said: "I've had quite a few comments saying it's reassuring just to see me walking around."

PC Barksby's latest priority is to persuade students to take valuables home and not to leave them in rooms during the Christmas holiday.