The number of criminal cases in Beijing dropped to its lowest point in the first half of this year comparing with the same period in the last three years.

Beijing had 51,886 criminal cases put on record in the first six months this year, down 32.1 percent and 10.2 percent compared with that of the same period in 2004 and 2005 respectively, according to the Capital Public Security Comprehensive Administration Committee.

The number of murder and robbery cases both reduced and the growth of intellectual property infringement cases was slowing down from January to June, according to the committee.

A recent poll by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that 55.5 percent of the Beijing residents surveyed felt secure or comparatively secure, rising 0.7 percent year on year.

The commission said it will focus its future work on the city's rim areas and linking zones between urban and rural areas, and further enhance management over migrant workers.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2006)