Papal mass: Volunteers learn martial arts, how to spot threats

Hectic schedule for some with preparations in full swing for stadium event on Sept 12

- Shermaine Ang

Around 50 people in the volunteer security team for Pope Francis' visit have gone for martial arts training to prepare for the papal mass on Sept 12.

Should anyone suddenly get aggressive, these volunteers are taught defensive tactics to disengage and get the police to help.

Mr Kevin Ho, co-chairman of the security and safety sub-committee for the visit, said this forms just a small part of the team's scenariobased training for the event.

Nearly 400 volunteers have been trained in first aid and basic firefighting, and underwent a security programme introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs to help them spot high-risk individuals and put them through enhanced checks.

The security team's priority is crowd control, and it will engage the police only when necessary, said Mr Ho.

"We try to take the soft approach.

This is a Christian event - it's all about encountering Christ. We won't really be harsh but want to use a humane way of dealing with people," he said.

He added that the police will deal with external threats, while his team is more focused on its "bedside manner dealing with the faithful as they come along".