TORONTO - A new poll suggests most Canadians believe the police response to the G20 protests was appropriate.

Hundreds of people were arrested at the Toronto summit of world leaders last month amid damage to shops and cars in the city's downtown.

Some protesters complained of police violence, threats and mistreatment in custody.

A Harris-Decima survey for The Canadian Press says two-thirds of people polled felt the police response was appropriate, while about one in five said it was inappropriate.

And two-thirds of those surveyed doubted a future G8 or G20 meeting could be held in Canada without violence and property damage.

The telephone survey of just over 1,000 Canadians was conducted June 30 to July 4 and is considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Despite the raucous Toronto protests -- attributed to a relatively small group of hardcore activists -- just over half of people surveyed were in favour of Canada hosting such meetings in future.

That was down from the pre-summit level of 68 per cent.

"Before the June G8 and G20 meetings, Canadians generally felt these summits serve a valuable symbolic, if not necessarily productive purpose," said Doug Anderson, senior vice-president of Harris-Decima.

"Although they were seen as expensive, most felt hosting summits to be worth the cost. In the wake of this summer's meetings, we find some of that enthusiasm has eroded."

The House of Commons public safety committee met Monday afternoon to debate a motion for hearings on policing of the G20.

But Conservative members of the committee opposed the idea of hearings -- at least for now.

"It's premature," said Tory MP Dave MacKenzie, noting others including the Toronto Police Services Board were already looking into the matter and should be allowed to complete their work.

MacKenzie said police did a fine job of dealing with the "thugs, hooligans and anarchists" who wreaked havoc at the protests.

Liberal public safety critic Mark Holland told the committee the issue is not front-line police officers. "The issue is the prime minister that put them there."

Holland called the G20 a "security nightmare" and "absolute farce" that should never have taken place in a major city, where property damage was predictable.

The NDP has said it wants MPs to look at the conduct of summit security personnel, alleged violations of civil liberties, property destruction and possible compensation for business owners.

The poll indicates a majority in all regions and across all groups felt the police response in Toronto was appropriate. However, younger Canadians and those in Quebec were most likely to say it was inappropriate.