LONDON, England – I have to admit I had no idea there was such as thing as "riot training" for journalists. To be sure, CNN and many other news organizations pay to put their frontline folks through "Hostile Environments" training and I had a week in the woods back in 2003.At that time, we spent one session on riots and what struck me at the time was the instructor saying we were all more likely to get caught up in crowd trouble while working in the field then we were to experience a terror attack.

So now, fast forward to this week and preparations for the G-20 summit in London. CNN paid for myself and several of my colleagues to attend riot training at a police facility east of London. Those at the facility prefer it to be known as "Public Order Training."

As soon as we arrived it was obvious this was a serious place; one sign in the cafeteria read "No firearms allowed in the canteen."

Others there were doing their weapons training (few police are armed here; those that are belong to the Metropolitan Police's CO19 branch). There were also ambulance teams and mounted police doing their own training.

It should be no surprise that our little team stuck out. One of the trainers hinted that we, as journalists, might not be given the friendliest reception.

The afternoon started with a classroom session. But what sticks in my mind were the shouts and gunfire coming from the street below as CO19 officers went through a drill trying to entice bad guys out of a car.

Soon enough, we were introduced to the mean streets of London - Hollywood style. This I was not expecting. The facility has four square blocks or so of a typical London neighborhood, complete with false-fronted shops, plus a tube stop (with an original underground train inside), and a 1950s-style housing estate with its own grim walkways, yards and courtyard.

As we walked around the streets, the police were busy practicing car chases - we had to look out for the cars and the police had to look out for journalists getting in their way.

Then we suited up for our first riot. We had been warned to expect "demonstrators" (actual police taking turns as troublemakers) throwing petrol bombs (Molotov cocktails) around - and we would be caught in the middle.

So, we put on what can only be described as "Robocop" outfits; with shin guards, helmets and groin protectors. Then we were marched down a street as others threw petrol bombs at our feet. The point of this was to show us how to put the fire out if our clothing catches fire.

Next it was riot time. The point of this was that the police have to train for public disorder, as do we, and we have to deal with each other. The trainers said the best thing for us to do in a riot situation was not to be there in the first place - but our jobs demand we not only get video of the riot but also interviews with those involved on both sides.

Both sides could - and at some point did - refuse to talk to us or, in the case of the demonstrators, target us. Petrol bombs where thrown consistently at my camera during the 20-minute exercise.

The next morning we practiced how to back out of an angry crowd (stick together is the main theme here) and then it was time for three day-time "public order" scenarios involving football fans getting out of hand as they are being moved from a tube station to a stadium and police calling in mounted units to break up the group. Few people will stand in front of a horse as it charges down the street.

Then, it was a full-on riot again. We broke into three groups and attempted to interview the top policeman on the scene and also one of the troublemakers. We each had a different strategy. My team stayed behind the police. But because of the (dummy) camera, one of the protesters again targeted the cameraman and he was pelted with fake bricks, wooden blocks and real petrol bombs with glass flying everywhere.

Another team chose to be behind the crowd and one member was grabbed by a protesters and thrust to the front line between the police and rioters.

My team also followed a group of police into the grim courtyard with the smell of burning petrol all around. It became clear to us that this police unit was in a vulnerable place (balconies above and only two open escapes) so we got out of there. The key is to be the extra eyes for the camera person who is clearly the most exposed of the team.

While it was just training, and the whole thing would soon enough stop at the sound of a whistle, it was real enough for me.

When it comes to any disruption in London during the G-20 or elsewhere, we as journalists cannot be dressed like the police in protective suits. We will be dressed somewhere in the middle and cannot count on either side to watch out for our safety. And there will be no whistle to stop the action.