Public swimming pools have been urged to strengthen security checks this summer, according to the Shanghai Social Sports Administrative Center Wednesday.

Under the new policy which has been issued to avoid explosions or other terrorist attacks, local public swimming pools have been ordered to check shampoos, body wash and other liquids before people are allowed on the premises.

Since public swimming pools opened on June 20, more than 1.5 million people have entered.

During that period, the sports authority conducted 321 spot checks on swimming pools, but found some venues did not follow security procedures.

"Some swimmers could not understand the security measures and refused to have their liquids checked before entering the swimming pools," said a director surnamed Ma at the Shanghai Social Sports Administrative Center. "As pool managers are afraid to lose their customers, the guards sometimes just let them go in."

There were 438 swimming pools in the city which had passed the organization's safety examination.

(Shanghai Daily July 18,2008)