The RCMP and military have been given special permission to jam radio and cellphone signals as part of increased security measures at next week's G-8 summit in Alberta and the Pope's visit to Toronto in July, The Globe and Mail reports.

The order, signed by the Industry Minister on June 6, exempts the army and police from the provisions of the Radiocommunications Act, which prohibits interference of radio communication "without lawful excuse."

This is the first time police or the military have been allowed to block signals, an official told The Globe.

Jamming could be used to stop a signal from going to a remote-controlled device to blow it up.

RCMP spokesman Corp. Benoit Desjardins said jamming an important security measure for both events. However, he didn't know how the jamming would affect cell phones or commercial radio transmissions.

The order specifies that "every reasonable effort shall be made to confine or restrict to the extent possible interference with or obstruction of a radiocommunication...to the smallest physical area, the fewest number of frequencies and the minimum duration required to accomplish the objectives of the interference or obstruction."

Security has become increasingly important in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

For the G-8 summit in Alberta, which runs June 26-27, RCMP and Calgary police will be working together to enforce a security area of six-and-a-half kilometres in radius. Police will also be on alert in other cities, such as Ottawa, where protests are planned.

The RCMP and Toronto police will also be on hand to protect the Pope during World Youth Day, which runs from July 22-28.