China Daily Exclusive

Foreign police in Toronto to learn

By Ding Qingfen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-26 14:57
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Foreign police in Toronto to learn
Sergeant Dan Somers, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with foreign police officers outside Toronto's Direct Energy Center, which is serving as the international media center for the G20 summit.[Li Xing/China Daily] 

Toronto - A group of men - some dressed in suits, others casually - followed Sergeant Dan Somers, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, out of Toronto's Direct Energy Center.

The center is serving as the international media center for the G20 summit, scheduled to open on Saturday.

Somers pointed to the fence and the white tent right outside the entrance, and the group watched carefully as police officers frisked journalists.

The men reentered the media center and went straight to a security check area, much like the security check zone at an airport, which journalists have to clear before boarding shuttle buses to the Metro Conference Center, where the heads of states will meet on Saturday and Sunday to discuss important issues related to world economic development.

Along the way, Somers kept talking about the measures Canada has adopted to enhance security for such summits.

He acknowledged he was somewhat like a tour guide for the men under his charge, who are representatives from police departments worldwide.

They have been sent to Toronto to learn a thing or two about security at major events.

The 13-member team comprises of officers from seven countries, including Japan, South Korea, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and France.

Davis Falls, a Toronto government official who organizes the training courses, said nations that are going to hold big events including the Olympics, G8 or G20 have sent their personnel here for training.

Toronto's experience would probably be helpful, Falls said.