Beijing's 850,000 anti-terror volunteers to be fully insured

Beijing's 850,000 public security volunteers, part of the capital's full-scale anti-terrorism campaign, will receive a generous amount of accident insurance, The Beijing News reported Wednesday.

Any volunteers who are injured in terrorist attacks will receive insurance payments of up to 400,000 yuan ($64,221) and injured volunteers will receive the insurance payout within 180 days, said Liu Xiaowei, assistant general manager of China Life Insurance Company.

The company has signed a one-year contract with the Voluntary Association of Capital Security on Tuesday.

The volunteers have been mobilized in Beijing to patrol main streets and help police with safety inspections like checking passengers and their belongings at subway stations and highway entrances.

Some community volunteers patrol crowded places like bus stations and hutong.

Liu Yu, deputy head of the association of Beijing security volunteers, said so far no volunteer has received any terrorist threats and future volunteers will receive the same insurance.

Since June, 826 safety loopholes were found and 731 disputed cases in communities were defused through the efforts of those security volunteers, who can be identified by their red armbands, The Beijing News reported.

Many of the volunteers are retired people aged from 50 to 70 years old. They have assisted Beijing police to arrest 58 people suspected of various crimes since June.

They will also report suspicious personnel and inappropriate behavior, the Legal Mirror reported.

Other major Chinese cities have also stepped up security efforts to maintain stability. This includes an increasing police presence, very often armed officers, on the streets and seeking public participation in anti-terrorism and crime tip-offs, after the launch of a nationwide campaign in late May.

Beijing is also keeping tighter control on long-distance buses carrying passengers to the city. Identity checks before leaving the station began in 2012, while a new rule prevents passengers from disembarking before buses arrive at the terminus to strengthen anti-terrorism, reported the Beijing News.