Ho Chi Minh City police kick off weeklong security drills This file photo shows a scene of the anti-riot drill conducted at the Lien Khuong Airport in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on December 9, 2012. Tuoi Tre Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday initiated weeklong maneuvers against public disorder, illegal bike races and acts of sabotage in many districts in an effort to strengthen their security protection capability. The HCMC Police Department and the city Party Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Education announced the drill at a meeting yesterday. Accordingly, the drills are scheduled to take place from 10 pm until 2 am every day from December 1-7 in the city’s downtown areas as well as Districts 5 and 7, and Binh Thanh and Tan Binh Districts. During the rehearsals concerned agencies will isolate a number of traffic routes in the drill areas and restrict people from gathering, driving or shooting video and photographs there. The drills may affect daily life and business activities of households located in the areas of the drills, the HCMC police said, adding that they hope to receive sympathy and support from affected people so that the drills can be completed successfully. The People's Committees of districts where the drills are involved will inform local residents and businesses about the drills. The drills will help enhance the awareness of relevant agencies in ensuring security and order in the city and ensure necessary preparations for effectively resolving security incidents, if any occur, police said. The drills also serve as warnings for those who have attempted or are attempting to incite illegal bike racing, causing public disorder, smashing or destroying property, and resisting on-duty law enforcers in the city, police said. The drills are being conducted under a master plan that includes handling illegal bike races and acts of public disorder and sabotage, and practicing defense exercises within the city, said Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Sy Quang, the spokesman of the HCMC Police Department. The drills will help review and assess the ability of police in handling complex security incidents and test the coordination between police and other forces, including the military, in dealing with such incidents. From 10 pm on Monday to 2 am on Tuesday, the first day of the drills, a number of police units carried out drills in Districts 5 and 7 and Binh Thanh and Tan Binh Districts, police reported. Tuoi tre news