Community cops build harmonious society

Training courses

Lu Yian, a senior at Beijing Police College, said, "Like all police officers, we need to learn practical skills and comprehensive theory."

The 21-year-old Beijing native is studying a policing program related to foreign nationals. As such, he needs to master Chinese laws related to expats, international law, theories about international relations, and police skills, such as paperwork, investigative techniques and dealing with emergencies.

He has also taken part in practical sessions at community police stations, where he and his peers learned about working procedures and dealing with emergencies related to expats.

"First, we need to explain their duties and rights, plus Chinese law and regulations, then we handle the situation according to the law. In most situations, people are very cooperative," Lu said.

When he started the program, he was puzzled because he felt the scope of foreign affairs was huge and he could not find a focus. Now, he concentrates on studying the law.

Foreign languages are also a crucial part of the curriculum. The college mainly offers English courses, but trainees can learn other languages if they are interested.

Liu Ying, 21, another senior on the program, studies English and Korean.

"Explaining Chinese law and policies fluently to foreign nationals in their own language is essential when handling issues, because sometimes problems are the result of misunderstandings," she said.

The college also focuses on students' transnational cooperation abilities, and it regularly sends them on exchanges overseas to promote a broader perception of the world.

Liu Ying's main interest is international cooperation, and she is studying international telecom fraud for her final-year project, as it is one of the key areas the police are cracking down on.

Case studies and internships are the main means by which she and her peers master practical skills, and she and Lu have participated in several notable events, including the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

"On many occasions, no matter whether in a community or an international forum, we represent China. Sometimes we act as diplomatic officers and interpreters, introducing China to our foreign friends and translating their words into Chinese," Liu Ying said.