The capital city has reported 6 percent fewer criminal cases in 2001 than for the previous year, sources with the municipal public security bureau said.
As a result of intensified efforts exerted since April 2001, overall security in Beijing has been improved, according to Thursday's Beijing Morning Post.
The number of major crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, bombing, rape and robbery have dropped by 13.6 percent, while the rate of solved criminal cases has seen a yearly increase of 18.1 percent.
The newspaper quoted the findings of a poll as showing that the public sense of security was boosted last year. The poll, conducted by the municipal statistics bureau, reported that eight percent more residents here expressed confidence in better public security.
More police on the street have helped the situation, according to the newspaper.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2002)