South Africa send police reinforcement

South Africa are sending 64 police officers to the Caribbean to help with security at the World Cup, the office of National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi has confirmed.

The Deputy National Commissioner Andre Pruis will head up the group who will provide operational assistance in Grenada, St Lucia and Barbados from April 8 until the close on April 29.

Speaking in Pretoria on Wednesday, Selebi's office also said the contingent would include certain members of the special task force and national intervention unit, bomb disposal experts, detectives, hostage negotiators, crime scene investigators, explosives dog handlers and a command-and-control group.

The police and troops will be involved in the security sweeps inside venues, airports and harbours, VIP protection and crowd control and will be available for emergencies not only at the cricket venues, but in any of the Caribbean countries.

De Beer also said that the SAPS had been involved in security planning for the tournament, in a support capacity, since June 2006. South African military personell were also on duty in Kenya during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.