By Winny Wang

The Beijing government has invested 200 million yuan (US$25 million) to organize professional security patrol teams for the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing News reported Friday.

Seventy percent of the security teams will be recruited from local residents, 20 percent will be veterans and 10 percent will be non-locals.

Along with a salary, the government is offering other benefits, including accidental injury insurance and achievement rewards. The members will join in military training and receive militarized management.

Miao Lin, a senior official from Beijing's Public Security Bureau, said by the end of this year, the number of security team members is expected to reach 30,000, and by 2008, the figure will rise to 50,000.

The patrol teams are responsible for preventing crimes, assisting police in protecting scenes, rescuing and the general protection of public security, said Liu Yucheng, another official of the bureau.

Liu said the government has invested 200 million yuan into the existing 21,000 patrol members.