From: mart RCMP tightens its controls on protesters. Police create new unit, the Public Order Program, to handle demonstrations. David Pugliese and Jim Bronskill Vancouver Sun Faced with a growing number of large demonstrations, the RCMP have quietly created a special unit to deal with public dissent. The new team of Mounties, called the Public Order Program, was established in May to help the force exchange secret intelligence and information on crowd-control techniques with other police agencies, according to an RCMP document. The RCMP's move to strengthen its capacity to control demonstrations comes amid increasing concern about government and police responses to legitimate dissent. The new unit with the Orwellian name will also examine how to make better use of "non-lethal defensive tools," such as pepper spray, rubber bullets and tear gas, indicates the document, a set of notes for a presentation to senior Mounties earlier this year. Select officers will be run through a "tactical troop commanders course" to prepare them for dealing with public gatherings. The Public Order Program is intended to be a "centre of excellence" for handling large demonstrations, allowing the Mounties to keep up with the latest equipment, training and policies, said RCMP Constable Guy Amyot, a force spokesman. "It gives us some more tools to work with." The initiative, sparked by a spate of ugly confrontations between protesters and police at global gatherings, comes as Canada prepares to host leaders of the G8 countries in Alberta next year. ...... _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
