The Shanghai municipal public security bureau announced on Sunday that its special police force will begin to conduct armed patrol missions in the city's 10 major urban districts, starting from May 1.

All members of the special police force have passed severe selection procedures, and have superb fighting and driving skills.

While conducting patrol missions, they will wear unified combat uniforms, use unified equipments and drive unified patrol cars.

Their props include pistols, batons, tear shells, handcuffs, and tactical flashlights.

Using GPS to navigate, they will patrol the city according to a grid system, dividing Shanghai into squares.

The first dispatch of 44 patrol cars will be deployed in Shanghai's 10 major urban districts, and all the districts of Shanghai will be covered by the end of this year.

Shanghai police first began to conduct an armed patrol mission on the city's streets in 2001. It proved effective in deterring street crimes and handling emergencies. The reinforcements to the special police force are expected to further enhance the city's security.

(CRI April 30, 2007)