Police told to put brakes on misuse of official cars

By Zhang Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-01 07:50

Police officers who drive official vehicles faster than the speed limit, jump red lights and park outside restaurants and other entertainment venues while not visiting them on official duty face suspension, the municipal public security bureau has announced.

The bureau said it began a new initiative in February and will be keeping a close eye on police car use until November following an order from the Ministry of Public Security.

The department has set up monitoring points on major roads, including the second and third ring roads, and will also use footage from surveillance cameras to try to spot illegal use of police vehicles.

It has checked 485 vehicles since February and found 18 violations.

All of the violations were described as minor and included such things as not wearing uniforms or not carrying a driving license, said Jia Chunming, a senior officer in charge of police discipline inspection.

Newly appointed police chief Fu Zhenghua is heading the inspection team in an attempt to show how seriously the department's senior bosses take the misuse of police vehicles.

Jia said the illegal use of police cars might include refitting police cars from expired vehicles, using the emergency siren while not on duty, drunken driving, allowing civilians to drive police cars and lending police license plates to others.

Jia said complaints from the public have made it urgent to stop abuse of power to protect the reputation of the police.

Xu Kang, chief of a police station in Xicheng district, said the campaign will help eliminate abuse of power and remind officers that vehicles are only to be used for official business.

"I personally heard complaints from citizens about police officers pressing horns wherever and whenever they go and it does hurt the image of the police," he said.

Jia said the inspection is targeting a short-list of major abuses but that list will be widened in future.

Citizens can call the police hotline at 6514-0706 or dial 110 to report misuses.