The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started circulating flyers and primers on basic crime prevention tips to all its units in key urban areas of the country nationwide, which they will distribute to students and their parents during the enrolment period and start of the opening of the classes on June 15.

Millions of students around the country are expected to troop back to school for the simultaneous opening of classes in public schools scheduled on June 15.

Chief Superintendent Nicanor A. Bartolome, director of the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), said the distribution of information materials in school campuses and public convergence points by local police units is aimed at heightening public awareness to preventive measures against common street crime activities, especially syndicated crime that victimize students and school children.

“This is part of the ‘Balik-Eskwela 2010’ stipulated on the Letter of Instruction of the Chief, PNP (Director General Jesus Verzosa) wherein regional offices and national support units were ordered to implement the nationwide security and public safety plan for the opening of the school year,” said Bartolome.

“Oplan Balik-Eskwela 2010 ensures the operational readiness of police units in responding to peace and order concerns including threats from criminal elements that may take advantage of the situation,” he added.

Flyers published by PCRG titled “Pag-iwas sa Krimen at Sakuna sa Balik-Eskwela 2010” provide crime prevention tips covering four general topics on 1) Safety in the Streets, 2) Safety in Public Transportation, 3) Safety reminders for parents and school children; and 4) crime prevention tips for women.

Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said the crime prevention tips provided by the PNP offers basic instructions on crime prevention such as denying criminals the opportunity to commit crime by becoming hard targets and removing objects of the crime by not wearing expensive jewelry and accessories to school.

To ensure safety in the streets, among the eight tips of the police is to for the students not to show off their expensive jewelry, refrain from walking in dimly-lighted and unfamiliar streets, and the basic rule of not talking to strangers.

On public transport, Espina said it would be better for students to take down the name and license plates of taxis they were riding in and text it to parents or friends and to make sure that your bags and wallets are secured when taking buses or passenger jeepneys.

For parents, especially of grade school pupils, Espina said they must coordinate with the school authorities on who are the only persons allowed to fetch their children, apparently an anti-kidnapping measures, and if possible give their children something to defend themselves like tear gas canisters.

For ladies, the PNP advises women, as much as possible, to take morning subjects so that can travel to and from school during daytime when crimes are less prevalent, said Espina.

“By being aware of the modus operandi of criminal elements, the public can initiate their own counter measures to prevent crime and avoid becoming victims,” said Espina.

“Police officials were also instructed to coordinate closely with DepEd (Department of Education), CHEd (Commission on Higher Education) and school authorities for effective implementation of law enforcement and public safety operations,” he added.

In Metro Manila, Espina said they have alerted local police units, especially in the University Belt area to sweep the area of street crime gangs that prey on students and to be on the lookout for drug traffickers and violent street gangs that may infiltrate the ranks of students.