All hands on deck for police at World Youth Day
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 26 May 2008: 7.
Abstract
“Sydney during World Youth Day will not be Sydney during APEC,” she said. “What we have is a celebration of youth.” She said one of the clear messages to come from the Pope’s recent US visit was that Australia should expect an atmosphere of celebration, festivity and happiness from the crowds.
“The Sydney crowds will be well in excess of those experienced in the US, but many aspects of the NSW police World Youth Day security command plans mirror the arrangements the US Secret Service had in place for the visit of His Holiness,” he said.
He praised the security preparations. “I have no significant concerns at all,” he said. Cardinal Pell said the Pope was looking forward to visiting Australia, and he believed Australians would quickly warm to the pontiff.
Full Text
ALL leave for NSW police has been cancelled and 4000 officers will be on duty at the height of the World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney, only 50 days away.
Many normal police activities, including appearances in court for legal proceedings, will be postponed until after the event.
At a special preview of security arrangements yesterday, the authorities forecast that 500,000 people will participate in the final mass led by Pope Benedict XVI.
The World Youth Day spokeswoman for the NSW Government, Kristina Keneally, said security arrangements should not be compared with last year’s APEC meeting.
“Sydney during World Youth Day will not be Sydney during APEC,” she said. “What we have is a celebration of youth.” She said one of the clear messages to come from the Pope’s recent US visit was that Australia should expect an atmosphere of celebration, festivity and happiness from the crowds.
World Youth Day police commander David Owens said there would not be a repeat of the APEC-style security lockdown, including fencing off city blocks.
He said NSW had monitored the Pope’s recent US tour.
“The Sydney crowds will be well in excess of those experienced in the US, but many aspects of the NSW police World Youth Day security command plans mirror the arrangements the US Secret Service had in place for the visit of His Holiness,” he said.
“Our plans include highway patrol, dignatory protection, explosion detection dogs, public order riot squad, marine area command, aviation command, commuter policing, communications and general duties police.”
Cardinal George Pell said the church was on track to register 225,000 pilgrims for the event, with well over half coming from overseas.
He praised the security preparations. “I have no significant concerns at all,” he said. Cardinal Pell said the Pope was looking forward to visiting Australia, and he believed Australians would quickly warm to the pontiff.
“He is a really splendid teacher and a really pleasant personality. He is not John Paul II, but I am sure Australians will warm to him.” Carinal Pell said.
“I am a veteran of three world youth days. They are happy occasions, not just for the participants but for the whole community. It is a Catholic celebration but it will be open to all young people. It will be good for the whole of society.”
Thousands of Catholics joined a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Sydney yesterday, led by Cardinal Pell, to mark the Feast of Corpus Christi, with the increased numbers being attributed to the enthusiasm being generated by World Youth Day.
Credit: John Stapleton