The Chinese men in blue tracksuits were horribly familiar. Although they were dressed like athletes, their robotic movements, blank faces, swivel eyes and rough, menacing style reminded me of the secret policemen I had to avoid when I was in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, some years ago.

Last Sunday, they surrounded Konnie Huq as she ran with the Olympic flame through the streets of London, ordering her to hold the torch higher and shoving protesters and British policemen out of the way.

Lord Coe, the London Olympics chief, was overheard describing the so-called "torch attendants" as "thugs".

He said: "They tried to push me out of the way three times. They are horrible."

(Article continues below)

It turns out that the gang of men in blue tracksuits were members of an elite Chinese paramilitary police force, known as the Olympic Games Sacred Flame Protection Unit, which was formed from members of the People's Armed Police (PAP).

As the flame continues its uneasy journey around the world, dogged each step of the way by colourful Free Tibet protesters, these men have become the living symbol of all that is most chilling about the Beijing regime.

But who are these Chinese secret policemen?

I spent three months in Tibet researching a book about the country's recent political and social history, and found them to be both effective and ruthless.

Tasked with protecting the integrity of the Chinese communist state against separatism, dissent or subversion, they rely on a network of informants.

Full article here.