China is actually admitting just how abysmal its police force’s track record is. I guess this openness is a good thing, but it’s hard not to be depressed by the numbers.
China’s law enforcers managed to solve only about 30 per cent of all reported cases last year, a ranking official said in a rare admission of the inadequacy of the country’s police.
This is just one concern in a litany of shortcomings listed on Thursday by Mr Zhang Xinfeng, Assistant Minister of Public Security, Xinhua news agency reported.
‘It should be soberly noted that a gap exists between the expectations of the Communist Party, the nation and the people and the actual ability of the police to solve cases and enforce the law,’ he said.
The efficiency of the police force had emerged as a public issue in China, as a loosening of social controls made crime easier, while media scrutiny had forced officers to become at least a bit more accountable.
Zhang also admitted the police frequently treat suspects brutally, hold them too long in prison, and are often in partnership with criminals.
You don’t say.
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By chriswaugh_bj
Did you hear about the fat cops in Beijing’s Xicheng District who were given free gym memberships and told to shape up? I’ll have to go looking for the article again, it appeared about a week or two ago.
June 11, 2004 @ 10:05 pm | Comment
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By chriswaugh_bj
Found it. It’s a short piece on this page entitled “Police officers urged to reduce their weight.” You’ll have to scroll down a bit to find it, which isn’t easy thanks to the crap format. And they’re in Xuanwu, not Xicheng as I first wrote.
It seems that some of them are simply to fat to catch criminals.
June 11, 2004 @ 10:43 pm | Comment
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By richard
It’s not surprising that they’re overweight. It’s no secret that many (all?) of them are pampered by the people they’re hired to protect, and enjoy lots of free meals.
June 12, 2004 @ 10:49 am | Comment