<p>While currently the security at beaches is manned by Tourist Police and a private agency, two more forces are being raised to ramp it up further.<br /><br />One of them, a force of local 1,000 youths who will look after the security on the beaches, was announced to be set up by the state government yesterday.<br />"This is a step in right direction. We have been always pressing for more security persons on the beaches," Lyndon Monteiro, officer on special duty to tourism ministry, told PTI today.<br /><br />He said additional force will help the department to curb crimes on the beaches.<br />This force, which is yet to be formally named, will be in addition to Centre-funded tourism security organisation, a force of ex-servicemen.<br />The Tourism Department is already in the process of setting up this force and have donated jeeps from the private tour operators body – Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) to it.<br /><br />The tourists visiting Goa are wary of their security after spate of crimes against foreigners including a rape on a minor Russian and earlier instance of death of British teenager, Scarlett Eden Keeling on Anjuna shore. <br /><br />TTAG had earlier expressed concern over increasing menace on the beaches in the form of beggars and vendors.<br />Monteiro said such a force will curb these instances of harassment of tourists, especially foreigners.<br /><br />Russian consulate representative Vikram Varma, though welcomed the step said security at beaches is a complex issue.<br />"Security of tourists is a complex issue. However this initiative is a welcome step in the right direction and I hope it improves the environment for the tourists here," he added.</p>
<p>While currently the security at beaches is manned by Tourist Police and a private agency, two more forces are being raised to ramp it up further.<br /><br />One of them, a force of local 1,000 youths who will look after the security on the beaches, was announced to be set up by the state government yesterday.<br />"This is a step in right direction. We have been always pressing for more security persons on the beaches," Lyndon Monteiro, officer on special duty to tourism ministry, told PTI today.<br /><br />He said additional force will help the department to curb crimes on the beaches.<br />This force, which is yet to be formally named, will be in addition to Centre-funded tourism security organisation, a force of ex-servicemen.<br />The Tourism Department is already in the process of setting up this force and have donated jeeps from the private tour operators body – Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) to it.<br /><br />The tourists visiting Goa are wary of their security after spate of crimes against foreigners including a rape on a minor Russian and earlier instance of death of British teenager, Scarlett Eden Keeling on Anjuna shore. <br /><br />TTAG had earlier expressed concern over increasing menace on the beaches in the form of beggars and vendors.<br />Monteiro said such a force will curb these instances of harassment of tourists, especially foreigners.<br /><br />Russian consulate representative Vikram Varma, though welcomed the step said security at beaches is a complex issue.<br />"Security of tourists is a complex issue. However this initiative is a welcome step in the right direction and I hope it improves the environment for the tourists here," he added.</p>