Police embedded in grass-roots Communist Party cells as security grip tightens on Beijing
- Mao-era practice revived in renewed push to strengthen grass-roots management
- Chinese capital already keeping close tabs on residents with volunteer neighbourhood watch groups
Police officers in Beijing are being appointed to top positions in grass-roots Communist Party cells overseeing communities throughout the city as part of sweeping efforts to further tighten control and scrutiny of residents in the capital.
In Tongzhou district alone, 239 police officers had been appointed deputy party chiefs of outlying villages and urban communities, Beijing Daily reported on Sunday.
The authorities began a pilot programme of the policy in 2012 and plan to have it in place citywide this year. By July, every village and residential community in Beijing will have a community police officer doubling as its deputy party chief to “strengthen grass-roots management”, the report said.
A similar programme is under way in Shanghai.
The capital is already keeping close tabs on its residents with volunteer neighbourhood watch groups, including ones dubbed the “Chaoyang Masses” and “Xicheng Aunties” by internet users.
These volunteers are an expansive network of senior citizen informers who monitor neighbours and tip the police off about any suspected crimes, from theft, fraud and drug use to terrorism.