Crime falls by double digits in first half of 2026

The numbers of criminal and public security cases in China fell by 16.5 percent and 11.3 percent year-on-year, respectively, in the first half of this year, reflecting a continued improvement in social stability, a senior police official announced on Friday.

Qi Yanjun, vice-minister of public security, said the sense of security experienced in China has also become a popular topic on overseas social media platforms. The declines came as public security authorities strengthened accountability for maintaining social stability and continued to improve the nationwide crime prevention and control system, Qi told a State Council Information Office news conference.

Police at the grassroots level have also been strengthened, contributing to a marked decline in preventable crimes and more effective control of frequently occurring public security problems, he added.

From January to June, Chinese police solved 48,000 criminal cases involving economy and finance, with 12.15 billion yuan ($1.79 billion) in economic losses recovered.

During the same period, the number of theft, robbery, and fraud cases totaled 307,000, down 38.9 percent year-on-year, while the number of homicide cases dropped to a record low.

Meanwhile, the number of telecom and online cases filed by police fell 15.6 percent year-on-year in the first half. Since October 2025, the monthly number of such cases has declined year-on-year for nine consecutive months, Qi said.

Police also investigated 1,744 cases involving organized crime and local criminal gangs, and progress was also made in improving drug control and preventing juvenile delinquency, he added.

To better serve businesses, police have improved communication and established a service mechanism with enterprises. Economic crime investigation departments have also introduced 10-point guidelines designed to make their services more convenient for the public and businesses.

Additionally, police handled 18,900 cases involving intellectual property infringement and counterfeiting and arrested 33,800 suspects in the first half of this year, making every effort to stimulate innovation, Qi said.

Public security authorities have also worked with other departments to make travel, consumption, and daily life more convenient for foreign visitors. Official data showed that foreign nationals made over 22.91 million entries into China from January to June, up 20.4 percent year-on-year. Of those, 17.82 million were visa-free entries, an increase of 30.6 percent. "The growth in cross-border travel has become a new driver of economic development," Qi said.

China has continued to improve its legal framework for public security and strengthen oversight of police operations. Authorities have addressed prominent problems in law enforcement and expanded the use of digital and intelligent technologies in case handling to regulate work conduct.

Furthermore, the number of serious road traffic accidents in the first half of this year fell 8.8 percent year-on-year. Police also strengthened their capacity to identify and address risks associated with emerging technologies and activities, including artificial intelligence and low-altitude aviation, with ongoing efforts to improve their comprehensive cybersecurity governance system to address online risks and safeguard cyberspace, Qi added.