Beijing deploys 700,000-strong ‘granny’ patrol after shopping centre knife attack

BEIJING will this week deploy 700,000 security volunteers onto its streets, in the latest mobilisation of a “granny” civilian force which monitors public behaviour for the authorities.

The decision to mobilise almost three quarters of a million elderly volunteers comes after a woman died and 12 others were injured when a man went on a knife rampage in a shopping centre on Sunday.

Volunteers wearing red armbands and caps are a common sight on Beijing’s streets. They are viewed by some as helpful; by others as intrusive busybodies.

Authorities usually dispatch large numbers of community volunteers during periods of heightened security, particularly for political gatherings.

The “granny” patrols have no real powers, but report any intelligence and “uncivilised” behaviour to police. They often help police with safety inspections, checking passengers and their belongings at railway stations and road junctions. Others patrol residential areas to monitor safety hazards and security issues, or identify illegal activity, such as unlicensed street vending.

Security is often ramped up in the run-up to Chinese New Year, which begins on Friday, as many people are travelling and “end of year” wage disputes can surface. “The security volunteers, including residents wearing red hats and armbands, would strengthen patrols at traffic hubs and densely populated areas, including business districts,” the state-run Global Times newspaper reported.

A total of 200,000 volunteers were deployed yesterday, with another 500,000 today, the Beijing Daily said. Authorities have previously announced that Beijing has a total of 850,000 such volunteers.

“Many of the volunteers are retired people aged from 50 to 70 years old,” state media previously reported.

China has growing ranks of elderly but dwindling numbers of younger generations due to a demographic imbalance caused by almost four decades of the one-child policy.

The volunteers often belong to groups which bear the name of local districts in Beijing, such as “Xicheng Aunties”, “Yongshan Persuaders” and the “Chaoyang Masses”.