Interpol biggest ever presence at football world cup in SA
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The international policing group Interpol announced that it will have the biggest ever security presence in the host country of the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Ronald Noble, Secretary General of Interpol told reporters on March 31, that the biggest deployment would be contributed by as many as 32 teams from their respective countries.
He explained that even though no direct threats had been made against the South Africa’s football spectacle, Interpol always fears and prepares for any possible terrorist attacks.
Otherwise he has no doubt that South Africa will be safe during the upcoming football championship.
Noble and his colleagues are in South Africa to assess special security requirements, with special focus on the country’s ports of entry. “All Interpol member states had pledged to support South Africa host a safe and secure World Cup,” he said. Interpol will use the latest technological devices to screen passports of hundreds of thousands of visitors at border posts.
The organization will also pay special attention to crack down on organised crime, drug and human trafficking.
About 8,000 police officers have allegedly been trained to deal with unruly crowds with special emphasis on riot police.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has also admitted to hightened special patrols along the country’s borders during that venues.
