Police practice for G20 summit by simulating hostage taking
Weekend workaholics attempting to reach their downtown office towers Sunday got the first hint of the disruption that will be caused by this summer’s G20 summit in Toronto, as tactical officers took over part of the underground PATH system for a training exercise.
The concourse level of Commerce Court was the scene of a simulated hostage taking, with officers from Toronto Police Emergency Task Force partnering with the building’s private security staff.
Deputy Chief Kim Derry said the exercise, which saw officers shooting blank rounds as well as a type of ammunition similar to paint balls, was designed to train police and security guards on how to communicate through a shared radio system.
The G20 will “test our ability to work in concert” with the private sector, he said. “On a Sunday, it’s very easy because there’s nobody here. But during the weekdays, there’s literally hundreds of thousands of people in this area.”
The G20 meeting takes place at the nearby Metro Convention Centre on June 26-27, and is expected to bring 15,000 dignitaries and journalists to the city, as well as a throng of protesters. More than 5,000 police officers are expected to be on duty throughout the event.
Deputy Chief Derry said private security guards at the city’s office towers, condo buildings and tourist sites are considered an important factor in crowd control and emergency response.
“There’s only so many police officers but there’s lots of private security,” he said. “If private citizens see things they can report it to the private sector and the private sector has a communication network now with us and they can pass it on.”
Sunday’s simulation was closely observed by more than 100 people, including building managers, City of Toronto officials and representatives of private security companies. The fire department and Emergency Medical Services were also on scene.
It was the first time police have staged a simulated operation in a downtown office building, said Deputy Chief Derry.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/police-practice-for...
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The G8/G20 meetings took place in Ontario from June 25-27, 2010. Toronto-based organizations of women, people of colour, indigenous peoples, the poor, the working class, queer and trans people and disabled people organized a peoples convergence with 40,000 people taking to the streets, standing up for justice in collaboration and solidarity!
Activists, community members, inspired and outraged individuals came together as a movement to demand justice for people and the planet. Over a week of mobilizations, events, workshops and direct actions took place in the face of state and police repression, violence and infringements on rights and freedoms.
We must continue to mobilize and build greater solidarity among our communities- an important part of this is supporting all those arrested during the G20 summit, including our allies still in detention, and those released on bail.