Chinese authorities unveil plans to ‘maximise display of police force’ two weeks after group assault on women
- New public security minister Wang Xiahong promises 100-day ‘hard-fist’ campaign to target criminals in run-up to year’s biggest political event
- The announcement comes two weeks after an attack on a group of women in the city of Tangshan that triggered a wave of public outrage
China has promised a “maximum” display of police force in a 100-day campaign the public security ministry said would improve public safety.
The assault triggered widespread outrage and discussion about violence against women after security camera footage showed a group of men rushing into a barbecue restaurant to attack a woman who rejected one man’s advances and the three others she was dining with. Two of the victims had to be hospitalised.
The authorities will “maximise the display of police force on a street and community level” as part of a 100-day campaign to step up protection for women, children, and the elderly, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Saturday, ahead of the Communist Party’s 20th party congress.
On Saturday the new public security minister Wang Xiaohong announced plans at a planning conference to consolidate control over social order this summer, the ministry said in a notice.
“We must use hard fists to protect the legal rights of women, children, the elderly, the disabled and students with fast, accurate and fierce measures according to law,” the ministry said.
“We must comprehensively deepen the battles against criminal forces and maintain a zero-tolerance approach to actively eliminate organised crime and severely punish their protectors.”