800,000 recruited as informants in run-up to 60th anniversary

Beijing police are mobilising 800,000 residents for a two-month crime-watch campaign in a bid to boost public security ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic.

The China Police Daily said the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau on Wednesday had called on all officers to reinforce the security measures used for last year's Olympic Games in preparation for the anniversary on October 1.

The Beijing Times said that 35 police officers in the capital had taken part in a competition to determine who will mobilise the most residents.

The campaign would focus on settlements of migrant workers, old residential areas, borders between urban and rural areas, public service areas and places known to be centres of crime, it said.

Residents in sensitive spots had been encouraged to provide clues to police on daily patrols, while people who take part in the mobilisation are entitled to give marks to those 35 competitors.

As part of the competition, police officers in the capital so far have launched more than 32,000 mass meetings in street committee offices, transient population associations, rental-housing owners' clubs, shop-owner unions and entertainment spots to keep an eye out for any hints of violence and crime, the Beijing Times said.