With iron fences surrounding villages in Daxing district and security guards manning the entrances at all times, residents say they feel much safer now.

A year ago, Daxing district government erected iron fences, set up watch houses and installed surveillance cameras in 151 villages that had large migrant populations and bad security situations.

The strengthened safety measures also stipulated that people must provide proof of identity every time they enter the villages or whenever patrolling guards ask them to do so.

The migrant population exceeds the number of local residents in 90 villages in Daxing district. This is causing safety problems.

However, the new security measures caused a huge wave of concern and criticism in the early stages of its implementation, with people worrying normal life and freedom would be restricted.

One year later, the security situation has improved significantly. The number of criminal cases has dropped by more than 40 percent compared to the same period the previous year, according to statistics from the Daxing branch of the Beijing's public security bureau.

Wang Qingtao, media officer for the public security branch, told METRO that villagers are enjoying a higher quality of life.

There are no unlicensed street vendors selling counterfeit products, no piles of garbage on the streets and the crime rate has been reduced dramatically, Wang said.

"We've learned from estate management and have expanded it into our village administration. The feedback is very positive," he said.

Residents in the area are happy about the changes too. Their satisfaction has risen from 48.3 percent to 96.5 percent, according to the branch.

Wang Lixia owns a restaurant in Shoubaozhuang village in Daxing. In the beginning she felt uncomfortable showing proof of her identity to the security guard and worried the check would affect the number of her customers.

Contrary to expectations, her business has improved because the surroundings are cleaner and tidier.

More importantly, her tricycle has not been stolen even when she has left it outside overnight.

"Now I am used to showing them (security guards) my identity card," she said. "The biggest benefit is that it is a safer place now."

Daxing government plans to carry out the village management method in another 227 villages in the south of the district by the end of June and will continue to modify it to better serve the needs of residents.

"Our next step is to plant roses outside the iron fence, so it will be better for the environment and reduce the uncomfortable feeling iron causes in people," Wang said.

Li Jiabao contributed to the story.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/11/2011 page)