Chinese paramilitary police undertake crowd control duties on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Photo : Getty Images)
Beijing's Chaoyang Police District confirmed that they will release a smartphone app so that citizens can report suspected illegal behavior.
Users can report information regarding criminal suspects, suspected child trafficking, missing person notices, lost and found, and anything illegal by either uploading a video or a picture or through text message through the so-called "Chaoyang masses" app.
This is a move that many Chinese netizens have hailed as a great idea.
Residents of Chaoyang revealed many cases of celebrities involved in taking illegal drugs and prostitution practices to the police even before the app was launched. These celebrities include Jackie Chan's son Jaycee Chan and 47-year-old singer Mao Ning. Jaycee was detained in Aug. 2014 over drugs and Mao Ning was detained for drug-taking in 2015.
An Internet user nicknamed "talang" said that he feels very proud to be a spy. Another user nicknamed 'bingkele' posted: "It will be a disaster for criminals."
An anonymous user posted "Speaking of Chaoyang, I only admire the masses," after hearing the news.
"Public tip-offs are an important way for police to get information, and being able to report illegal behavior through the app will increase public awareness of their responsibilities," said Chen Tianben, an associate professor at the Chinese People's Public Security University.
As Internet users welcome the app, the police workload will mount up quickly for verifying content submitted.
Chen added: "If people misuse the app by reporting on others for reasons of revenge and the uploaded content is found to be fake, those tattletales will have to take responsibility in accordance with the Penalties for Administration of Public Security and Criminal Law."
The Police had already used this app into good news, as they have posted news about cases reported on the app and ask for help. One post is regarding a 9-year-old girl that went Missing from her neighborhood in Beijing's Fengtai district.
