JEDDAH: The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is currently conducting training courses in English for the commission members in Riyadh in collaboration with the British Council.

“With the help of the British Council, the commission plans to train 90 percent of its field agents in various provinces in the Kingdom in the English language,” Abdul Mohsen Al-Qafari, official spokesman of the commission, told Arab News on Friday.

“It is because English is understood by most of the people the commission is dealing with, particularly in issues related to moral behavior and violations of religious laws,” he added.

Stressing the importance of constantly training the commission’s members and workers, the spokesman said the commission was starting training programs in three regions beginning Saturday.

The course in Taif is focusing on media relations and skills that help them discharge their duties in an effective and smooth manner. The course in the Eastern Province will train the members on how to handle confidence rackets involving the purported use of black magic.

The course in Riyadh is organized in collaboration with the Imam Muhammad bin Saud University to instruct the members in field activities and communication skills as well as in interacting with violators.

“The commission has completed courses to train its volunteer members in Abha. The course was conducted in collaboration with the Umm Al-Qura University with special emphasis on dealing with vacationers in Asir. Similar courses will also be held in Makkah province,” said Al-Qafari.

Al-Qafari said the commission has not received any orders to ban all public screening of films.

“If any order to ban cinema comes to us we will instantly announce the matter through the media,” he added.