POLICE on both sides of the Causeway today jointly launched a series of five pamphlets in their first cross-border crime prevention initiative.

Targeting travellers from Singapore and Malaysia, the brochures contain police contact numbers, and safety tips to ward off theft, violent property crime, outrage of modesty and cheating scams. The fifth is a guide on prohibited items in Singapore. The initiative is spearheaded by the Jurong Police Division and the Johor Police Contingent.

"Now with the rise of Iskandar, we see an extra need to intensify our efforts, especially from the commercial standpoint. This is in anticipation of investors," said Datuk Ismail bin Yatim, Johor's deputy chief police officer, in a speech delivered at Aeon Bukit Indah Shopping Centre, Johor Baru.

From today, the pamphlets - in English and Malay - will be distributed at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. There are also plans to roll them out to tourist hotspots around Johor.

Said the Singapore Police Force's Deputy Commissioner T. Raja Kumar: "By raising public awareness through education on crimes of concern, we can actively encourage the community to be vigilant and safeguard themselves to avoid being victims of crime."