China reports decline in serious crimes, strengthens measures against judicial corruption

China's top procuratorate announced on Thursday that serious crimes have continued to decline nationwide, with offenses affecting public safety perceptions falling significantly.

From January to November 2025, the Supreme People's Procuratorate reported that procuratorial authorities approved arrests for 604,000 people and brought public charges against 1.27 million, a decrease of 12.9 percent and 13.3 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Deputy Prosecutor General Miao Shengming noted that the total number of criminal cases has dropped to the lowest level this century, with public safety perceptions remaining above 98 percent for six consecutive years. Prosecutors charged 49,000 people for serious violent crimes such as intentional homicide, robbery, and kidnapping, down 10.3 percent from the previous year. These cases accounted for 3.9 percent of all prosecutions, staying below 4 percent for nearly a decade.

Authorities approved prosecutions for 369 suspects in major criminal cases dating back over 20 years, imposing severe punishments on crimes with grave consequences and significant public safety impact.

Efforts continued against trafficking of women and children, with 950 people charged for trafficking-related crimes, down 16.4 percent year-on-year, marking the lowest level in a decade.

Zhang Jianzhong, head of the SPP's prosecutorial department for major crimes, highlighted the decline in serious violent crime as a reflection of improved public security but warned of evolving crime methods, including greater concealment and digitalization.

Prosecutorial authorities will focus on swift and severe punishment for extreme violent crimes, particularly those drawing strong public concern, such as homicide, robbery, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking.

In 2025, local procuratorates enhanced investigative functions to combat judicial corruption. From January to November, prosecutors opened investigations into 1,378 individuals, focusing on cases with serious consequences and strong public concern, including abuse of power and fraudulent litigation.

A set of typical cases released by the SPP highlighted irregularities in handling organized crime and illegal gambling syndicates. Investigations led to prison sentences for five judicial officials for dereliction of duty and abuse of power.

By the end of 2025, over 200 cases were corrected following a special review, promoting lawful and standardized investigative practices.