Bradford students who are taking part in a huge community watch are being urged to report crime via text message and the internet.

Fifty thousand students and staff at Bradford College and the University of Bradford have joined forces with West Yorkshire police to create Campus Watch.

In the latest part of the initiative computer contact points have been set up where students can report incidents, seek advice and protection via e-mail.

Messages can also be sent to the police, security staff and community watch co-ordinators via the Securitext text messaging service. Students and staff are being given a special number with direct links to the University's security control room so that they can report incidents on campus.

Sergeant Ian Dellow, of Bradford South police community safety unit, said Campus Watch, which was set up last year, had become "one of the largest community watches in the country, covering about the population of a small town".

He said: "It enables information to be rapidly exchanged to the benefit of the college and university communities so we can improve community safety and assist in the prevention and detection of crime."

In a bid to further improve security, Bradford College and the University has just improved CCTV coverage around campus.

Sgt Dellow added: "Staff and students can also text a CCTV control room to say they are about to make a journey and the staff can then monitor them with their cameras."

Regular patrols by city centre wardens and police community support officers are also being made throughout college and university campuses. The wardens and police have radio links to the CCTV control room in Bradford city centre and security staff in nearby shops and bars.

Vice-president of Education and Welfare at Bradford College Melanie Bawn said: "The visual presence created by regular patrols of city centre wardens and community support officers has made female staff and students feel more confident, and should there be a problem they know exactly where to go and who to talk to, in confidence if necessary."

The initiative was welcomed by women's officer for the University of Bradford Student Union Hatty Slovak.

Bradford College security manager Mark Hirst said: "We'll be monitoring the initiative as it rolls out and look forward to feedback."