A circular has been issued by the Ministry of Public Security and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) saying they are to cooperate formally to fight against crimes in the sector.

The commission started a six-month campaign in late July.

The circular said there has been an increasing number of insurance-related crimes, such as the setting up of bogus insurance companies, the counterfeiting of insurance policies and cheating on compensation payments, during the past few years.

The two departments are to work on an information-sharing basis, particularly with regard to clues and leads found during their own investigations.

They will also hold regular meetings to exchange information and discuss new measures and policies to combat crime in the sector, but details of the frequency of the meetings were not forthcoming.

When dealing with serious crimes, joint investigation teams would be established, the circular said.

The two departments are "to cooperate fully with each other" during investigations, it said.

Previously, the departments worked together on individual cases only.

The circular is a further effort to bolster the nationwide campaign initiated by the CIRC inJuly.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2009)