Some 22,500 police officers will protect Bogota over the Christmas period as part of Mayor Samuel Moreno’s “Plan Christmas 2010,” reports Radio Santa Fe.
Moreno said the strategy to keep the capital safe over the holidays would focus on fairs, shopping malls, parks with Christmas lights and any public events involving crowds of people.
“The district is adopting special measures to ensure citizens a friendly, safe and happy Christmas, through the implementation of articulated strategies that seek to reduce risks that deteriorate the coexistence and security during the year-end festivities,” Moreno said.
Plan Christmas 2010 security measures:
A ban on carrying firearms from December 1 2010 to January 11 2011.
A crackdown on the manufacturing of illegal bootleg alcohol.
A campaign on fireworks safety will be launched on December 5.
A special intelligence plan will combat illegal fireworks sales.
Police and army will control access roads into the city.
Traffic police will conduct regular checkpoints throughout the city.
Authorities have developed strategies of dealing with the huge increase in traffic over the period due to the 300,000 cars expected to be driven into the city by tourists.
Bus terminals will see increased security to deal with the large numbers of travelers entering and leaving the city.
