Currently, the flying team are training both at home and overseas so that the members can become more familiar with helicopters and have better flying skills.

They should be deployed in June, performing tasks including transportation, search and rescue, traffic control, and high-altitude photography.

The diving unit are responsible for salvage, underwater criminal investigations, capturing suspects and removing explosives in reservoirs, lakes and rivers.

The dog unit now have 15 members and more than 20 German Shepherds, with the most expensive canine costing about 300,000 yuan (US$37,500).

Jiang Yu, a member of the police dog unit, told China Daily that each dog's daily food allowance is about 20 yuan (US$2.50). "It's the same as us," he joked.

Ready when needed

When an accident is reported to the 110 emergency hotline, officials at police headquarters decide whether and how the SPF should be involved.

Although they are strong, decisive and brave, SPF members have admitted they sometimes feel nervous.

Li Xin, a 24-year-old SPF officer who has been serving since the force was established, said he is sometimes worried when he is called out on duty. "But upon my arrival at the scene, I'll forget all dangers and concentrate on what's in front of me," he said.

The recruits start their day at 6 am, with periods of training and rest throughout the day, Li told China Daily. He said sometimes they have evening exercises starting from about 8 pm. If there is no training, they often play basketball or ping-pong or read books. Bedtime is at 10 pm.

"It's actually the same as army life," Li said. "Although theoretically I can go back home once a week for two days, it is more common to go home once a month because of training."

Their salary is much the same as that of ordinary policemen in Beijing. Li said he gets more than 2,000 yuan (US$250) a month with three free meals a day.

Despite the relatively low pay, there is enough demand for the job that SPF departments have been set up in 36 cities across the country. But Vice-Minister of Public Security Liu Jinguo said in September that Beijing's team had become China's strongest and best-equipped.

As an SPF member, Li said he had already felt some pressure because "to safeguard the Games is something really important," But he added that with the efforts of all his team, the Games would definitely be a safe one.

For the SPF team, there's no other option.

(China Daily 12/08/2006 page1)

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