The city's police force is carrying out a feasibility study on a project that could result in surveillance cameras being installed on buses in a bid to crack down on the rising number of pickpockets.

If the project gets the go-ahead it could cost about 100 million yuan (US$12.3 million), according to the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau.

"Our initial plan was to install two or three surveillance cameras on certain buses that serve the city's major routes," police spokesman Qian Wei told a press briefing on Friday.

"We hope the government and transport companies will pay half of the costs."

Qian said that this was the first time it had been tried in China and so Shenzhen police have to develop its own system.

"The expert team is looking at the proposals now and we hope the whole project can be finished by the end of next year," said he.

The city's public transport network, with more than 8,500 vehicles on nearly 400 routes, serves 4.3 million passengers a day, or about one third of the total population.

A total of 10 buses that serve two trans-district routes were installed with cameras last April.

Afterwards, the police received no reports of pickpocketing. This supports their belief that cameras could cut down on crime.

"We print warnings if a bus is equipped with surveillance cameras. Obviously, the new equipment scares away thieves," said Qian.

The other major function of the cameras is to collect evidence that can be used in any criminal prosecution.

"With the cameras, the police can trace thieves and charge them using the video records," Qian said. Normally, the videos are kept for 15 days, he added.

While waiting for the go-ahead to set up cameras citywide, the police have launched a two-month crackdown on bus pickpockets. So far they have infiltrated 63 gangs and arrested 672 suspects.

Shenzhen Bus Group, the city's largest public transport company, in which Hong Kong Kowloon Motor Bus has a 35 per cent stake, said it welcomed the police's new scheme.

"It's undoubtedly a good practice. It will maintain order on buses and will encourage more people to use public transport," the group's spokeswoman said.

However, some residents, while they appreciate the police's efforts, are worried about the costs of the scheme.

"People should firstly protect their own belongs to prevent them from being stolen," said Yang Min, a government employee who takes a one-hour bus journey from his home to his office everyday.

(China Daily April 3, 2006)