Beijing police announced on Thursday that the capital saw a 2.7 percent drop in the total number of criminal cases in the first 10 months of the year, and police were able to crack more cases than before.

In the first 10 months, more than 43,000 suspects were nabbed, up 12 percent over the same period last year, and 60,700 criminal cases were cracked, up 6.6 percent.

A total of 11,100 members of 2,700 criminal gangs were apprehended, according to the latest statistics from the public security bureau.

"The figures indicate a marked improvement in the police's abilities to safeguard stability and security in the capital," said Li Yuejie, deputy head of the criminal inspection team in the bureau.

"We received crime-related reports about 30 to 40 percent fewer than before, since we busted several criminal gangs in the Daxing district in southern Beijing," Li added.

"The improved public security is a good foundation and necessary prelude for next year's Olympics," Li said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)