A volunteer (R) helps a policewoman to answer questions from a granny in a simulation patrol at the Tiananmen Square on Sunday, Jan 7, 2006.

The first group of 50 volunteers will start helping police to patrol the Tiananmen Square in Beijing at 7:00 AM on Wednesday.

The Beijing News reports the volunteers are made up of media workers, college undergraduates, business employees, entrepreneurs and Olympic venue construction workers.

An official from the Tiananmen Police Station said all the volunteers have received relevant training in basic police skills, English language and sign language.

The official said the volunteers' main task is to help the police with security, like helping to keep surveillance on suspicious people hovering around the square. Every volunteer on duty must wear an armband for identification and work under the orders of the lead policeman.

(The Beijing News January 8, 2007)