"I feel secure and at ease living in Beijing as I feel an affinity
with its police force and am impressed by its administrative
transparency," Georgeon Phillips, an American lawyer said when he
visited a branch of Beijing Public Security Bureau.
The Beijing Public Security Bureau Sunday invited citizens and
foreigners to inspect its grass-roots branches in an attempt to
make Beijingers better understand their work procedures and
content.
About a dozen foreigners paid a visit to Yutan police substation in
Xicheng District Sunday morning, the first time in 54 years foreign
guests have looked through the city's police station.
The visiting foreigners were permitted to walk around the official
business section, the holding section, gymnasium and even the
command office.
They were able to see for themselves how Chinese police crackdown
on crime via a wireless network and how China is enhancing its
police power by using high-tech methods.
Jim Secreto, an English teacher in Beijing Foreign Affairs
College said the level of modernization of the Chinese police
forces was beyond his expectations. He had previously known little
about the Chinese police but after the visit he had a clear picture
of their day-to-day work.
Adam Murray, another foreign teacher from the Beijing Foreign
Affairs College said "I saw a very harmonious relationship between
police and locals during today's visit. In addition, the
maintenance of the city's security is very effective. Beijing is
definitely a safe place to live in."
Bilingual policemen will soon be able to act as tour guides for
foreigners.
Beijing policemen are now required to learn the basics of four
foreign languages, English, Japanese, Russian and Arabic in
preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Already some have a
good grasp of English.
(
October 14, 2002)