Based on statistics provided by the Ministry of Public Security, the rate of violent crimes dropped to 15.6 percent in the first quarter of 2015. (Photo : Reuters)
A Global Times report cited a top security official as saying that the homicide rate in China last year was equivalent to that of Switzerland, which is at 0.7 per 100,000 residents.
Furthermore, the report indicated that a consistent fall in violent crimes such as rape, murder and arson has occurred.
Based on statistics provided by the Ministry of Public Security, cases of such crimes dropped to 15.6 percent in the first quarter of 2015.
According to Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs within the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the public situation in China was satisfactory overall, given the large population and vast expanse of land of the country.
Meng also stated that a good number of crimes are now being committed over the Internet, and as such, he has called on government authorities to intensify efforts of preventing the proliferation of such illegal activities.
He further added that in line with the initiative is the need to improve regulations on public security administration to ensure effective accountability.
Chinese police have begun a campaign in April to crack down on illegal drug transactions conducted online and have so far solved 14,878 drug-related offenses and detained 32,871 suspects.
"China has been investing a lot in public security prevention and maintenance of social stability," said Chen Zhonglin, dean of the Law School at Chongqing University. "Unlike certain major nations such as the U.S., China has a much stricter control over firearms and knives, which has reduced the possibilities of violent crimes to a great extent."
