Police in China tweet to change stern-faced image

BEIJING - Police across China have taken to micro-blogging as a means of interacting with the public, as the force seeks to change its image and ease tensions that usually arise from complaints being handled improperly.

At least 500 police bureaus across the country have started micro blog accounts on popular Chinese web portals over the past year. Beijing police's account, Safe Beijing, had some 330,000 followers at the end of 2010, officials said.

"We use micro blogs to deal with emergencies, to hear public complaints and to alert the public on crimes," said Zhao Feng, an official who manages Safe Beijing.