New rules were announced yesterday to restrain the country's criminal investigators from abuses of power such as the torture of suspects.
The regulations, announced by Procurator-General Han Zhubin, are the first set of administrative rules aimed at improving supervision of investigators.
'Under the new disciplinary code, procurators alleged to have used force during interrogation, illegally detained suspects or unjustifiably caused death of suspects would all face immediate suspension from duties and legal charges,' Mr Han told the National Procurator Conference in Beijing.
Falling standards of discipline and legal irregularities among investigators have caused widespread public anger recently.
'There are also procedures to prevent procurators from siphoning cash or confiscating products in investigations,' Xinhua quoted Mr Han as saying.
'The public could no longer tolerate their collective act of soliciting private gains through public duties.
'Authorities have realised the seriousness and are determined to halt such corruption.' The regulations also demand that interrogation rooms not be used for detention and that extra hours held in custody no longer be tolerated.
