Leaders from around the world are gathering for the United Nations General Assembly. While many global issues are on the agenda, New York City police are also hard at work - to make sure everyone stays safe during the meetings. As CGTN's John Terrett reports, security has been tightened across the city as the world leaders descend.

 

This may be home to the UN Security Council - the body responsible for world security and peace - but when it comes to security at the annual UN General Assembly, the council has no say. Professor Robert McCrie says that's down to the New York Police Department, the New York State National Guard Federal Protection Services up from Washington DC.

 

ROBERT McCRIE PROFESSOR OF SECURITY MANAGEMENT, JOHN JAY COLLEGE The Secret Service, in particular, which has an augmented responsibility for the protection of international visitors at this time.

 

That's right, the same organization responsible for looking after the U.S. Commander-In-Chief works with security details from all over the world to help protect the heads of state of almost 200 countries and territories from around the world. All with just one key aim in mind-no deaths, no injuries.

 

ROBERT McCRIE PROFESSOR OF SECURITY MANAGEMENT, JOHN JAY COLLEGE The city has no desire whatsoever for something like that to happen. It never has happened because the planning is so intense and careful.

 

But this year the Secret Service budget's wearing a little thin.

 

ROBERT McCRIE PROFESSOR OF SECURITY MANAGEMENT, JOHN JAY COLLEGE The Secret Service never expected Donald Trump to win and they never expected further that he would be traveling so much. As a result of this the budget for about 1100 agents in the Presidential Protection Unit has been exhausted at 160 thousand dollars per person.

 

JOHN TERRETT NEW YORK The Secret Service has asked for increased pay and more agents but it'll be a while before extra cash comes through. So, will the men and women in dark sunglasses with earpieces in - the Secret Service agents - be less likely to step up to the plate in the event of an incident.

 

Absolutely not. The agents who are in the Presidential Protection detail which includes visiting heads of state are dedicated to their responsibilities. They're not going to abandon their responsibilities even if they're not being paid for it.

 

The public is kept well back from UN HQ during UNGA. The closest protesters will get is nearby Dag Hammarskjold Plaza-where spirited chanting is allowed. Though no one tells them that visiting dignitaries can barely hear it inside the main UN complex. So, as UNGA approaches the plan is for world leaders to arrive in New York hold fruitful discussions and leave again while hardly noticing how tight the security is. That's the hope anyway. John Terrett, CGTN, New York.