Beijing police have stepped up efforts to protect the city during the upcoming National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the authorities said.

"All relevant work to ensure the capital's safety and harmony have almost been completed," Beijing municipal public security bureau said yesterday.

Extra resources have been dedicated for patrols and to deal with potential difficulties around the venues and hotels that will host participants, it said, while talks on safety were given in schools and on construction sites.

Local police have joined with sports authorities to coordinate the enforcement of no-fly measures imposed on flying clubs and at landing sites across the city during the sessions.

The security authority has also bolstered a crackdown on pick-pockets, robbers and racketeers.

Beijing police, commercial workers, urban management staff and officers from the cultural department, civil administration branch and transportation department launched a joint, citywide campaign to "purify the social security environment", it said.

Patrols and SWAT teams have been assigned to key roads to stop potentially dangerous goods from entering the capital, with around 600,000 guards and public security volunteers also expected to assist in keeping the peace during the conferences this week.

(China Daily March 2, 2009)