Special Police Forces (SPFs) have been set up in 36 large cities to deal with terrorism and riots.

Under the direct command of the municipal public security bureaus, they are equipped with sophisticated weapons and vehicles and the cities of Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Shenzhen will be assisted by helicopters.

Its members are mainly aged between 25-30 and the height restrictions are 1.70 meters or taller for male officers and 1.65 meters for females.

State-Councilor Zhou Yongkang, also a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, has called on the SPFs to be skillful, disciplined and well-equipped anti-terror forces.

In Beijing, the Municipal Government has allocated 500 million yuan (US$62.5 million) for the purchase of sophisticated weapons and building new facilities for the city's SPF ahead of the 2008 Olympics.

In Zhejiang, one of the most well-developed provinces in the country, efforts are being made to establish SPFs in all its 11 cities.

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2006)