'Lunar New Year is a time when people get together to have fun. Gambling for the sake of good luck is not within the scope of our crackdown.'

The Communist Party's anti-gambling campaign was launched after it was revealed that Cai Haowen , a mid-level official from Yanbian in Jilin , made at least 27 trips to a Hong Kong-run casino in North Korea and gambled away about 3.5 million yuan in public funds. The ministry yesterday issued a wanted notice for Cai, offering a 50,000 yuan reward for anyone providing clues leading to his arrest.

Police had detained 4,000 suspects during the campaign so far and identified another 50,000 who were participating, Mr Wu said, adding the campaign would continue until May.

'Even though the ministry has carried out annual campaigns against illegal gambling, the problem is still growing, particularly online gambling. Party cadres and civil servants are also involved in gambling.'

He highlighted the importance attached to the exercise by the central government, noting that Premier Wen Jiabao had voiced concern and that 17 central government departments were taking part.

The ministry will also boost its efforts to improve security at schools and combat kidnappings.

He Ting , director general of the ministry's Criminal Investigation Department, said car thefts, which rose 18.4 per cent from 2003 to 690,000 cases last year, would also be targeted.

In Beijing about 10 cars are stolen every day and taken to other parts of the country, according to Mr He. 'This is not a localised issue. There needs to be a national crackdown because cars are sold to different provinces.'

Yesterday also saw the release of crime figures from last year, showing that criminal cases across the mainland rose 7.4 per cent from 2003 to 4.71 million cases.

Ministry spokesman Sun Yongbo blamed the increase in crime figures on the growing number of 'property invasion' cases, such as bag snatchings and property theft.

He said that property invasion cases increased by 7.8 per cent to 4.06 million cases, with theft and snatching incidents rising by 9.3 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively.

Despite the increase in criminal cases, serious crimes involving explosions fell by 28.3 per cent from 2003 to 1,135 cases; arson cases dropped 12.9 per cent to 10,087; and rape cases fell 9.8 per cent to 36,175.

Crimes involving guns - including murder, robberies and kidnappings - fell by 13.8 per cent.

For the record:

Criminal cases

4.718 million, up 7.4 per cent from 2003

Burglary cases

1.257 million

Criminal cases involving death

29,000

Wanted criminals captured

193,000

Triad bodies cracked

44

Criminal gangs smashed

805

Cases involving disturbance of public order

5.366 million, up 10.2 per cent

Entertainment venues in violation of regulations

12000

Internet bars violating regulations

12000

Illegal publication seized:

1.14 million

Investigations into pornographic websites

244

Suspects arrested

428