S African Police Prepared for Climate Change Talks

The South African authorities are setting up special courts in the port city of Durban in its preparation for the Nov.28 to Dec. 9 United Nations climate change talks, South African police spokesman Vish Naidoo said on Wednesday.

Naidoo said these special courts will be on standby 24-hours a day to deal with climate change conference-related crimes, according to the South African Press Association (SAPA).

He reiterated that South Africa wants to deal with criminals in the same way as it did during the FIFA 2010 World Cup, when the process was praised for its swiftness and efficiency.

Naidoo explained that the Durban Magistrate's Court building will be used because it is close to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Conference Centre where the 17th Conference of Parties (Cop17) will be held.

More than 15,000 delegates and 10,000 observers from more than 190 countries are expected at the conference.

For the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 54 special courts were set up around South Africa to handle related cases speedily, SAPA said.

Naidoo said the South African police are ready in terms of the number of police officers who will be deployed during the conference.

He did not say how many police were being deployed. "All we can say is that we are ready. There will be high police visibility in Durban during the conference," he said.

Naidoo said that South African police will use bicycles, horses and some would patrol on foot. He said most of the South African police on patrol will use bicycles as part of a commitment to reducing gas emissions that cause climate change.